Series Saturday: Review: Mind Games (White)

Title: Mind Games
Author: White
Genre: Fiction, Sisters, Psychic Ability, Thriller, Action, Series
Pages: 241
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Ages: 7th grade & up

I discovered this series starter because I am a big fan of White's Paranormalcy trilogy (I know, I know...I'm not supposed to like paranormal books. But that series is really good!). 

From the Publisher: 
Fia and Annie are as close as two sisters can be. They look out for each other. Protect each other. And most importantly, they keep each others secrets, even the most dangerous ones: Annie is blind, but can see visions of the future; Fia was born with flawless intuition--her first impulse is always exactly right. When the sisters are offered a place at an elite boarding school, Fia realizes that something is wrong . . . but she doesn't grasp just how wrong. The Keane Institute is no ordinary school, and Fia is soon used for everything from picking stocks to planting bombs. If she tries to refuse, they threaten her with Annie's life. Now Fia is falling in love with a boy who has dark secrets of his own. And with his help, she's ready to fight back. They stole her past. They control her present. But she won't let them take her future. 

I really enjoyed this story, told from both sister's perspectives. It was a unique construct in a genre that tends to start to all look alike. I have been recommending this one far and wide this summer, and I received the following brief review from a former student:
So as far as the romance goes I think it's well written because it's frustrating to read. It actually makes you feel something. Fia's relationship with her sister, Annie is interesting because their roles are reversed. The younger sister is looking out for her older sister instead of the other way around. I think the way the book ended was perfect for the sisters. Throughout the book their troubles came from the fact that they focused too much on the other instead of themselves as a whole. So the book kind of made the perfect solution while still leaving some problems to be solved. 

Fans of mystery, action, dystopian, and even romance books will find something to enjoy in this title. It's a fast read because you want to desperately get to the end to figure out what is going to happen! I cannot wait for the next one. Oh wait, I have an advance copy of the second book (Perfect Lies, pub. February, 2014). I think I might just go read it right now!

Review: Numbers: The Chaos (Ward)

Title: Num8ers: The Chaos
Author: Ward
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Future, Psychic Ability
Pages: 339
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

This is a stand-alone sequel to "Num8ers" and honestly does not require that you read them in order. However, if you have not read "Num8ers," I would highly recommend that you do so!

On the last page of "Num8ers," we learn that Jem's baby has inherited her ability to see the dates that people are going to die. It was a truly chilling way to end a book, by the way, and felt like a punch in the stomach when I was reading it. In this sequel, that baby is teenager Adam, and he has noticed that many people are going to die in January 2027, just six months away. Can he figure out why in time to stop it?


Just like his mom, Adam sees the dates that people are going to die. When he notices that large numbers of people are going to die around New Years, he sets out to figure out what is going to happen and tries to warn people of the impending doom. Adam resolves to use his "gift" to change the future and strives to do the right thing.

Adam's story is interwoven with Sarah's, a damaged girl who also has visions of the future and wants to understand what they mean. Both share an emotional connection and are haunted by their respective visions. Alternating the narration between the two characters takes readers on an emotional roller coaster. Adam and Sarah are well-drawn, multidimensional characters with distinctive voices and are characters that you care about and root for.


The action and engaging premise will intrigue readers and keep them turning the pages. The pacing is perfect, the plot is strong, and the characters are genuine. Just like in "Num8ers," the worldbuilding is done with such detail that you feel an immediate connection to the story.

Another sequel that does not disappoint! A MUST read!

Review: Num8ers (Ward)

Title: Num8ers
Author: Ward
Genre: Fiction, Runaways, Death, Psychic
Pages: 325
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Okay, I finally gave up on the 7 books that I had started and picked up this one. I have been dying (ha, ha) to read this book because the cover is so striking. That red eyeball is pretty cool. Guess what? It's not me and my scattered brain that couldn't get through those other books. I guess they just weren't that good. This one redeemed my faith in authors.

When Jem looks into people's eyes, she can see numbers. The numbers are a date, the date the person is going to die. Jem knew when her mom was going to die and she knows when her friend Spider is going to die...in only a few weeks. When Jem predicts a disaster in London that kills many people (she knew something bad was going to happen because everyone she passed on the street had the same death date), the police think that she is a terrorist. With no real family to speak of, Jem and Spider run. All the time, Jem hopes that she can change Spider's date with death.

A good read, and the last page will get you.