Hello GCReaders!!
GCRMaria here -- and I would like you all to give a warm welcome to May Ling -- our new, fabulous, incredible, and wonderful guest reviewer!
Check out her bio: May Ling is forever 21 with an amazing and gorgeous daughter whose social calendar rivals her own. She’s obsessed with music, owls and the written word, and thinks everyone needs to visit the MET at least once in their life. Vices include tanning, sour gummy worms, reality TV (eek), an iced latte and the belief that true love and soulmates can be found anywhere. Her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice and she finds herself reading it at least once a year. She currently has two blogs and is always within arms length of a journal for whenever inspiration hits. May Ling earned her BS in Business Management, lives in White Plains, NY and works for a non profit in Manhattan. She basically has no idea what she wants to be when she grows up, but aspires to make an impact on the world, one way or the other. Her bucket list includes saving a human life, visiting Ireland, cliff jumping and slapping someone in the face to name a few... 20 down, 90 to go! “Re-examine all that you have been told - dismiss that which insults your soul.”
And for your reading pleasure -- May Ling's first review:
It was the plot of this storyline that first drew me in to read this book. I will be the first to admit that I love a good post apocalyptic story, whether it’s a book, movie or TV series. (Who else is waiting “patiently” for the return of The Walking Dead?) But this whole idea of the world being taken over by a hoard of the undead because there’s an evil scientist somewhere is a little overdone, to say the least. I appreciate that this story is not only about a natural disaster and the chaos that ensues, but also that the main characters are all school aged. Their being sequestered to a superstore and having to figure out things for themselves is almost a quiet homage to Lord of the Flies.
I was a little put off at first that the story dove right into pandemonium in the first chapter with little character development. I didn’t get much of a backstory or a way to understand the characters right off. However, Laybourne was able to slowly give us insight to their characters and personalities through their actions during the various “surprises” that laid in store for them. If that wasn't enough, it's interesting to see how each of these personalities will interact with each other (especially when most of them have NEVER spoken before), if they will break the mold of their stereotypes and most importantly, who will surprise you the most in the end. I love this idea that, as a reader, you develop an opinion of a character and then BAM, not what it seems.
I would recommend reading Monument 14, and keep an eye out for it’s sequel Monument 14 Sky on Fire.
GCRMaria here -- and I would like you all to give a warm welcome to May Ling -- our new, fabulous, incredible, and wonderful guest reviewer!
Check out her bio: May Ling is forever 21 with an amazing and gorgeous daughter whose social calendar rivals her own. She’s obsessed with music, owls and the written word, and thinks everyone needs to visit the MET at least once in their life. Vices include tanning, sour gummy worms, reality TV (eek), an iced latte and the belief that true love and soulmates can be found anywhere. Her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice and she finds herself reading it at least once a year. She currently has two blogs and is always within arms length of a journal for whenever inspiration hits. May Ling earned her BS in Business Management, lives in White Plains, NY and works for a non profit in Manhattan. She basically has no idea what she wants to be when she grows up, but aspires to make an impact on the world, one way or the other. Her bucket list includes saving a human life, visiting Ireland, cliff jumping and slapping someone in the face to name a few... 20 down, 90 to go! “Re-examine all that you have been told - dismiss that which insults your soul.”
And for your reading pleasure -- May Ling's first review:
Series: Monument 14
Author: Emmy Laybourne
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: June 5, 2012
Hardcover, 294 pgs
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that can go wrong.
In Emmy Labourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth-graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world - as they know it - apart.
It was the plot of this storyline that first drew me in to read this book. I will be the first to admit that I love a good post apocalyptic story, whether it’s a book, movie or TV series. (Who else is waiting “patiently” for the return of The Walking Dead?) But this whole idea of the world being taken over by a hoard of the undead because there’s an evil scientist somewhere is a little overdone, to say the least. I appreciate that this story is not only about a natural disaster and the chaos that ensues, but also that the main characters are all school aged. Their being sequestered to a superstore and having to figure out things for themselves is almost a quiet homage to Lord of the Flies.
I was a little put off at first that the story dove right into pandemonium in the first chapter with little character development. I didn’t get much of a backstory or a way to understand the characters right off. However, Laybourne was able to slowly give us insight to their characters and personalities through their actions during the various “surprises” that laid in store for them. If that wasn't enough, it's interesting to see how each of these personalities will interact with each other (especially when most of them have NEVER spoken before), if they will break the mold of their stereotypes and most importantly, who will surprise you the most in the end. I love this idea that, as a reader, you develop an opinion of a character and then BAM, not what it seems.
I would recommend reading Monument 14, and keep an eye out for it’s sequel Monument 14 Sky on Fire.
So excited to guest review, thanks for having me ladies!! Those pile of books in my corner make my long commute to work that much faster ; )
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