January 03, 2012

Review & Giveaway: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons!

Hardcover: 386 pages
Published: January 31, 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: Article 5 #1

New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police, instead there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior, instead there are arrests, trials and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. It's hard to forget that the United States used to be different.
Life is no longer normal, but it's normal enough, until one day, Ember's mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings...the only boy Ember has ever loved. 

I am officially HOOKED onto this series!

Article 5 takes place in the U.S. at a time when all hell has broken loose - to put it mildly. The government has taken control over everyone and everything - instituting a one-world religion, curfews and moral statutes left and right. These moral statutes get stricter every day (without the public even knowing) and civilians find themselves being arrested for the most mundane things (like being caught reading a romance novel).

Ember Miller, our heroine, is placed in a Girls "Rehab" facility after her mother is arrested for Article 5 of the statutes. Even while being beaten and tested, Ember is determined to escape from the facility and find her mother. I love her character's determination and passion! I feel like the author, Kristen Simmons, does such a great job of balancing out Ember's desperation with her fear and her spontaneity. Ember wants to get out of that facility and she's damn sure going to try every method she can think of to do so. She is eventually saved from her prison by the one guy she's ever loved, Chase Jennings, who also happens to be a soldier.

We follow Ember and Chase throughout the entire novel as Ember is hell-bent on finding her mom. Their relationship is complicated but beautiful at the same time. I loved watching the two of them try to find themselves again after all the hell they have been through. Kristen Simmons does a fantastic job of making the characters authentic and real - to the point where you don't get annoyed by their back-and-forth relationship, but yet, you completely understand it. When they kiss and then argue, you completely get it. It's truly great writing.

Last, but of course, not least, we can't ignore the awesome action scenes in this book. Let me tell you how good Kristen Simmons' writing is: there is a scene where Ember is going to have to let someone beat her hands with a stick. The scene was written in such a powerful way (the sounds, the pain, the entire scene) that I literally felt I was there in the story, and I wanted to puke. You know how, in a movie when this kind of scene comes on, you can cover your eyes and pretend it's not happening? Well, you just can't do that in a book. You are forced to read the words and the images play out in your mind, and Kristen Simmons is so good at writing that I couldn't stop reading - no matter how gross it was, lol.  I seriously think that is one of the best scenes in the entire novel (writing-wise); it just sets you up perfectly for the rest of the book.

Please do me a favor and go pick yourself up a copy of this book and LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!

5 out of 5 stars!




ARTICLE 5 ARC GIVEAWAY!!!

If you're interested in winning a paperback arc of this most amazing book, follow Rafflecopter below. Good luck :)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

53 comments:

  1. Awesome review! The scene where Ember has to let someone beat her hands sounds intense! I love it when an author can evoke a visceral reaction.

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  2. Great review! I want to read this so bad.

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  3. Great review. This sounds like a great book. It's on my forever growing TBR list.

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  4. Strange its kind of what we are going through now with marshal law.

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  5. Eek! I can,T wait to read this one it's on my shelf waiting for me. I love action and intense scenes!

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  6. Okay, so this book has been on my TBR list but you just made me want to read it ASAP!! Love passionate characters and I cannot wait to read about Ember and Chase! Thanks for the review and giveaway! *fingers crossed* :)
    sarabara081

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  7. Marvelous review! This book had been on my I-really-want-to-read list for a long time! Thank you for the giveaway.

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  8. Great review! I can't wait to read this book.

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  9. WOW! This sounds iINTENSE!!! Another book placed on my Must Read List.
    Wishing you a great 2012!
    Phoenix
    PhoenixCarvelli(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. This book sounds so freakin amazing! I want to read it so so bad! You're review makes me twice as excited! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts :]

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  11. I'm really excited about this book! There is something about it that makes me think of one of my favorite video games-- Fallout 3!

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  12. Great review! I'm looking forward to reading this book!
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

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  13. Awesome review, seems like the type of book I would really enjoy :D I love books that have a dystopian world, it just always seems to have a great plot.

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  14. Awesome Review!! I can tell how much you loved this book and I can't wait to read it! Thank you for the giveaway too.

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  15. Great review! I am really enjoying this genre.

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  16. This book sounds intense. I love when an author can put you right there in the scene. Great review.

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  17. This book sounds really great. I love the whole idea of escaping from a prison and going on a whole adventure! Great review!

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  18. Yikes! So now I have yet another book to add to my already out of control TBR list. I have a weakness for Dystopian books and this one sounds like one I would really enjoy. Thanks for a great review.

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  19. I enjoyed your review, your enthusiasm has really got me interested in reading Article 5.

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  20. Thanks for the review! (And giveaway.) I've been looking for to Article 5's release since I first heard about it awhile back, but reading your review has me even more excited. :) I love reading books where I feel like I'm there, even if it's not a pretty scene!

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  21. OMG! You have definitely made this a must-read for me!! I love a book with a realistic give and take relationship :)

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  22. Very insightful review. This books sounds really interesting and cool the way you put it.

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  23. Awesome review I gotta say. Intense characters and a government that's lost it's mind. Thanks for posting. DeAnna Schultz

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  24. "The government has taken control over everyone and everything - instituting a one-world religion, curfews and moral statutes left and right. These moral statutes get stricter every day (without the public even knowing) and civilians find themselves being arrested for the most mundane things (like being caught reading a romance novel)." Okay, this is so wrong in so many ways. WTF was the author thinking?! Man, I would hate to live in this society. But thanks for the review. :D

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  25. This book was on my want list, now it is on my want really bad list! It sounds so good. Thanks for the the review and giveaway.

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  26. I could totally see this happening. We already have cameras on all of our roadways where I live. I wonder what's next...

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  27. I love dystopians, but at first this one did not stand out from the other recent dystopians and wasn't sure I was going to read it. But after reading your review and similar ones I like I might have to read it afterall!

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  28. I love dystopians; I can not wait for it to come out! So excited.

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  29. Honest & thorough review! I'd love to read this book.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  30. Great review! This book sounds great if I dont win it I will be looking to buy it. Thanks so much!

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  31. I'm so there. Thanks for the review...Carl

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  32. I love the idea of Chase arresting Ember's mom!

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  33. I've been looking forward to reading this one. I love that the characters feel real as well as the action scenes!
    - Jessica @ Book Sake

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  34. I put this book in my cart to pre-order. Crossing my fingers!

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  35. Awesome review. This book sounds amazing. I really can't wait to get a copy. Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  36. Sounds amazing, cant wait to read it! Love the giveaway!

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  37. this book sounds like exactly my cup of tea, can't wait to read it!

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  38. This book sounds so good! Too bad i don't live in US, but maybe I just buy it.

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  40. This books sounds like a great ready! Thank y ou for sharing your thoughts!

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  41. This book very interesting, I must add to my list thanks for sharing!
    Latoya

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  42. Awesome Review This book sounds so awesome hope I win this one

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  43. Great review, this sounds absolutely amazing!!!

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  44. Awesome review, just bumped it up on my wishlist.

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  45. Thanks for a great review. I've really been getting into the dystopia YA books as well. This sounds like one I'd like. Adding to my wishlist! THanks for the giveaway!

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  46. What a great review, it made me want to read this book even more, it's definitely going on my wish list! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  47. I am very new to liking dystopia books. I was leaned more toward realistic fiction and fantasy; especially vampire series. Ever since reading The Hunger Games, I am hooked on this genre. Sounds like another book I'd really love. Even if I don't win the ARC, I will definitely put it on my "To Read" list.

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  48. I am PUMPED for this book! I have this one too. I must it read it soon for my Dystopian Challenge.
    This is an awesum giveaway thankies :)

    Books & Beyond:TBR INTERVENTION & Giveaways

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  49. Alright, so I was already excited to read this book before I read your review, but now my excitement level is like, through the roof. This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time because I've been debating on waiting for the sequel to come out, but I don't know if I can do that now. Great review(:

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  50. I don't usually read dystopian books, but I've had my eye on this one for a while. I love your review and Think I'm going to finally check it out!!

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  51. Fascinating review, it seems you really loved the book! I had read mixed reviews on this one, but now I am gonna give it a try again =] Thanks for sharing the awesomeness =]

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  52. Oh, and forgot to say how much i LOVE dystopian books =]]]

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