Christmas break reads

I was able to read three great YA adult books over the Christmas break. Earlier in December I started reading Dark Life. Ty lives with his parents and sister in an underwater colony. Because of global warming and the rising sea levels there is not a lot of land left. Ty meets Gemma, who has come from the "topside, to find her brother. When they meet, Gemma thinks Ty is a ghost. "You're glowing." she accused. "I'm not glowing. It's called a shine. It comes from eating bioluminescent fish". Together they embark on an adventure and run into outlaws that used to just rob the government shipments, but now have begun terrorizing the locals. Ty discovers that the outlaws have special undersea abilities and wonders what Gemma would think if she discovered he has some of his own.

Don't let the cover deceive you, this is a great read that combines a dystopian novel (such as Hunger Games) with elements similar to the Wild West.


Next I read Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (a graduate of Lone Peak).
Evie is a teenager who works for the Paranormal Containment Agency because she can see through the "glamours" of other paranormals. Now someone is killing the paranormals, and Evie may be connected somehow because of a mysterious fairy prophecy. Amidst these problems she is falling in love with a shape-shifter who broke into the agency while trying to figure out who is behind the killings. Evie finally gets her wish to attend a normal high school with Lend, the shape-shifter. "So, is it everything you imagined?" he asked. "Seriously, this whole place--it's incredible! I can't believe you get to do this every day!"

Evie is a strong character who reminds me a little of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This story is unique and highly recommended for those who enjoy the paranormal genre.

Lastly I read Matched by Ally Condie, a local author.


The Officials of the Society decide everything what to eat, how long to work out, when you can enjoy recreational activities, and even who you'll be matched with or marry. Cassia is thrilled when he friend Xander is chosen as her match, but then when she is reviewing the info on her screen at home another face appears--that of Ky Markham, a boy who came to town from the Outer Provinces. Cassia has to decide is she is going to take the path chosen for her and forge a new one and accept the consequences of defying the Society.

"Lying in bed, my body and soul bruised and tired, I realize that the Officials are right. Once you want something, everything changes. Now I want everything. More and more and more. I want to pick my work position. Marry who I choose. Eat pie for breakfast and run down a real street instead of on a tracker. Go fast when I want and slow when I want. Decide which poems I want to read and what words I want to write. There is so much that I want. I feel it so much that I am water, a river of want, pooled in the shape of a girl named Cassia."

I loved the book and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series. (It's planned to be a trilogy). If you love dystopian novels with a little mystery and romance this is the book for you.