Starters: Lissa Price

Starters by Lissa Price

Review by Kara Grant

Here is a link to an interview Lissa provided from last year to give a preview of Starters: http://presentinglenore.blogspot.com/2011/08/author-interview-lissa-price-previews.html

From amazon.com:

In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life . . . until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan. . .

My Review:

Callie Woodland only cares about one thing. She promised her dad before he died that she would look out for her younger brother, Tyler, and that’s what she intends to do. After a year of living as squatters in abandoned buildings; not having food or water; hiding from renegades and marshals (both parents are already dead from the Spore Wars and there are no living relatives to claim them) Callie makes a desperate choice. She makes a deal with the body bank at Prime Destinations. Everything about this decision is dangerous, but seven-year-old Tyler has a rare lung disorder and they need better living conditions. Callie’s friend, Michael, promises to take care of Tyler in Callie’s absence.

The Enders are the only people with rights and their life spans easily reach 200 years of age. Everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty are dead. The only place for a minor is in an Institution or slave labor, and neither of those are viable options. Callie has been living on the streets with her brother for a year and just when she establishes a deal with Prime, they are kicked out of their home and forced to leave behind everything they own including the memories of their beloved parents. Before donating her body to be rented by an Ender, Callie ensures that her brother is safe while promising to return with food and money.

Donating your body is a simple enough arrangement. Your brain is connected to a body computer interface and then you’re placed into twilight sleep. Your body is rented for a week on average and then returned. When it’s all done, you get a healthy stipend that will allow for a different lifestyle and quality care. Callie is assured by the Enders in charge of this operation that there are limited dangers and in twelve months of business they have had no complications. Callie signs a contract and agrees to rent her body to an Ender three times. She is assured that Enders are prohibited from bringing injury and if they do so they are forced to pay a hefty fine. There is renter’s insurance to cover whatever problems may occur to the physical body, and there are rules each Ender must agree to following in order to rent a teen body.

Rules for Renters:

1. You may not alter the appearance of your rental body in any way, including but not limited to piercings, tattoos, hair cutting or dyeing, cosmetic contact lenses, and any surgical procedures including augmentation.

2. No changes to the teeth are allowed including fillings, removal and imbedded jewelry.

3. You must remain inside a fifty-mile perimeter around Prime Destinations. Maps are available.

4. Any attempt to tamper will result in immediate cancellation without refund, and fines will be levied.

5. If you have a problem with your rental body, return to Prime Destinations as soon as possible. Please treat your rental with care, remembering at all times that it is an actual young person.

Be advised that each neurochip blocks renters from engaging in illegal activities.

NOTHING in this story is what it seems and just when you think you understand what will happen next, another twist is thrown in. I had to keep an open mind so that the plot made sense and I could keep up with the characters, but reading this story made me feel like I was on roller skates, and Callie was pulling me along with every revelation she picked up along the way! She spends most of the book running or figuring out her next move as she escapes from danger several times. Starters is the teen version of Total Recall. It plays with your mind, it leaves you guessing the whole time, and it pulls you in so that you experience what Callie is going through at every turn.

I absolutely love the cover of this book, but there was very little information about it to decide if the plot was really as good as it sounds. It’s also compared to Uglies and Hunger Games (other dystopian settings). Uglies is one of my favorite series in all YA books; Starters lives up to the same potential and has no offensive content in it. For those of you who read my reviews, there is no profanity in this book which is always a treat for me  The violence in this book is as follows:

*Marshals in this story carry ZipTasers, weapons that, upon contact, will electrify, and they only go after minors. There are two incidents where a minor gets zapped and their skin is charred afterwards.

*Callie is in two fights at different times; one she escapes, and one she gets punched.

*One child is murdered; it’s not scary but heart wrenching.

*Callie shoots an Ender in the arm. In other scenes she handles different guns without shooting them. She threatens people by pointing a gun.

*There’s one car crash where the airbag explodes.

*There’s a chip in Callie’s head so that Prime will always know where she is. When the chip is tampered with, Callie gets a deafening noise that causes her to almost black out.

*The chip causes Callie to black out a few times.

*Callie is constantly driving or running away from renegades and guards, trying to figure out how to escape a situation or receiving threats/warnings on how to proceed

Callie’s renter is Helena, and they are constantly communicating throughout the story. Helena’s granddaughter, Emma, goes missing and Callie finds out that Prime Destinations is involved with her disappearance. Callie risks everything to find out what’s going on and discovers that Starters are disappearing. After putting demands on Callie and tampering with her chip, Helena ends up helping Callie in several ways that enhance the story in unexpected ways. Callie is determined to do the right thing and even though she is bribed more than once in tempting ways, she will only make decisions that benefit her brother and keep him safe. She is not a reckless teen, despite the risks she takes, and she considers every lesson her parents taught her along the way. She is appalled at the injustice shown to Starters, they literally have no rights, and she works hard to change that.

Starters ends in such a way that my jaw dropped. Have you ever read a book that’s so good you have to see exactly how many pages it is towards the finish so you know the moment it ends??? That’s what this book was like for me. There are a few unsolved dilemmas in Starters, but it is implied that they will be dealt with in the sequel Enders. Wow, I so want a copy of that!! I’m amazed that this is Price’s first book. It’s quite the original story that pulls you in until the last page and then keeps you wanting more! Even though it’s for young adults, this story will entice readers of all ages. It has enough action, romance, suspense, and drama to satisfy anyone looking for a good book. Get your copy today and let the Starter in you experience a new adventure! To learn more about Lissa Price and to see the Starters book trailer, please visit www.lissaprice.com.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the copy they provided for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.




AVAILABLE AT AMAZON

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

Forbidden

Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee

Review by Lisa Norsworthy

This year, I made a decision to break out of my usual reading routine. I gravitate toward dramatic fiction with a strong emphasis on the characters and the relationships between them. Forbidden is the total opposite of that genre, and it was a very interesting and exciting read.

The story takes place in the post-apocolyptic world 480 years after war almost completely destroyed humanity. During that horrible time, referred to as Chaos, scientists developed a virus that would eradicate all emotion in humans except for fear under the guise of avoiding another war caused by emotions like anger and greed. It is apparent, however, that it was used as a way to control the world by using fear to subdue the masses.

Rom has a terrifying encounter with an old who gives him a vial and tells him he is a Keeper. When consumed, the contents of this vial reawakens Rom’s emotions and sets him on a risk-filled journey against the evil forces that are after this potion.

The descriptive narrative of this book is top-notch. Tosca Lee’s influence is noticeable in the rich language. The plot is fast-paced, and the climax of the book is extremely satisfying making way for their sequel, Mortal.

My only hesitation in recommending this book is its darkness. Ted Dekker’s fascination with blood is evident with several scenes of people having their throats slit described in detail. While I am not particularly sensitive, someone who is may have trouble with this book, but if you like dark fantasy, you will love the exciting, fast pace of this piece.


Ted Dekker Books at Amazon

Kathy Tyers: Interview

I recently interviewed Kathy Tyers, who is the author of several science fiction books. Her Firebird trilogy is being re-released as a one-volume special annotated edition by Marcher Lord Press in April.

CFBR: Have you always been a fan of speculative fiction?

Kathy Tyers: I first read SF as a fifth grader, browsing the junior high section of the Dana Branch Public Library in Long Beach, California. I read Ben Bova’s The Star Conquerors and was hooked! And one of my friends gave me a copy of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time that summer. I didn’t know exactly what that book was—I didn’t think it was science fiction, since there weren’t any rocket ships—but I loved that too.

CFBR: You have a degree in microbiology. So what led you to write fiction?
Kathy Tyers: I’ve always been a reader. To me, getting carried away reading a good book was the finest of pleasures. I even wrote some little books as a young child, stapled them together along the left side and drew my own cover art. When my son was two years old and I wanted to do something “just for Kathy” during his naptimes, I started writing a Star Wars fanfiction novel … just for fun … and found myself hooked again by writing.

CFBR: When you wrote Firebird, did you always intend for it to be part of a series?
Kathy Tyers: I think I always knew she wasn’t the kind of person to peacefully “live happily ever after.” I liked her—and Brennen—well enough to want to know what adventure came next.

CFBR: You have a new edition of the Firebird trilogy coming out with Marcher Lord Press this year. For those of us who own the one published through Bethany House, what will be different about this new edition?
Kathy Tyers: The new edition will include beautiful maps, adapted by the gifted Jamie Upschulte from my hand-drawn originals. It also features annotation notes throughout: comments on word origins, bits of music that inspired me while drafting certain passages—and lots of writing-craft remarks, since I’m also a teacher (I mentor apprentices through the Christian Writers Guild). It’s second nature, for example, to point out my own struggles with the process of “how much information to reveal at what part of the story.” Crown of Fire also got a significant copy-edit. It was originally written and published almost simultaneously with my second Star Wars novel, and with two deadlines looming I simply ran out of time to give Crown a loving, careful last look. I’ve learned a bit about dancing in the last year, too—so there are some slight but satisfying changes in the choreography of Esme’s ball. Oh – and the cover art is (IMO) spectacular.

CFBR: Can you tell us a little bit about the two new novels that you will have published over the next two years?
Kathy Tyers: Wind and Shadow was written in partial fulfillment of my Master’s degree in Christianity and the Arts at Regent College in Vancouver BC. It’s more theological than the first three novels, since I was a theology student when I wrote it! WS skips ahead to the saga’s next generation, and it introduces a new cast of characters. For those who have wanted to know what Kiel and Kinnor would be like as they reach adulthood—here it is! The final Firebird novel—Daystar—will finish the series by introducing one more generation. Our Heroes have starring roles, though! I enjoy writing “older” characters, showing that the adventures in life don’t end when we hit thirty. Or even fifty.

CFBR: Marcher Lord Press is a rather unique publisher. How has it been different working with them as opposed to working with the more “traditional” publishing houses?
Kathy Tyers: I’ve enjoyed both experiences. Since MLP is an independent house, the feeling is particularly close and friendly—not just with editor/publisher Jeff Gerke, but also with other MLP authors.

CFBR: One of the challenges of writing science fiction is coming up with and keeping track of various worlds, technologies, ships, etc. How do you deal with this?
Kathy Tyers: I have a fat looseleaf notebook full of notes on topics ranging from “Sentinel Families and history” to “word derivations.” I drew on that notebook for many of the annotations, maps, and charts that will appear in The Annotated Firebird.

CFBR: Are you more of a plot-driven writer, or a character-driven writer?
Kathy Tyers: I consider myself character-driven, since I believe that strong Point of View creates a story that’s satisfying for both the writer and the reader. I plot thoroughly, though, before I write anything. The exception was Wind and Shadow. I simply sat down and started writing that at the beginning. About 1/3 of the way through, with all three main characters (Kiel, Kinnor, and a love interest for one of them [enough spoilers for now!])in mortal danger, I stopped and outlined a possible plot for the rest of the novel. Working with three main characters made it a more complex novel—and I wasn’t sure which, if any, of the three would survive.

CFBR: Do you have a specific “message” in mind for each book, or does it develop during the writing process?
Kathy Tyers: I find purely message-driven fiction (in my hands, anyway) too sermonic. My job is to tell a good story. After finishing the first draft, a book’s main theme often becomes clear. During the second draft (and successive drafts—I take much longer to self-edit a book than to write it) I make a fairly conscious effort to bring the theme forward. Never at the expense of the story, though.

CFBR: It’s been suggested that speculative fiction (fantasy, s/f, etc.) are not appropriate genres for Christians to write. What is your response?
Kathy Tyers: My studies at Regent College pretty much put that suggestion to rest. Let me recommend the fine books on the topic of Christianity and the Imagination by Dorothy L. Sayers, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Maxine Hancock, Jeremy Begbie, Madeleine L’Engle, James L. Sire and others –these people say it better than I could. Roughly quoting Sayers, my standard answer is that we are created in the image of a creative God, and so we are never more truly ourselves—nor more truly living in His image—than when we are engaged in creativity. I strongly believe that includes the big what-if questions of speculative fiction. Paraphrasing again—C.S. Lewis, this time—what we are will come through in our writing whether or not we consciously try to put it there. Lewis wrote extensively about sehnsucht, the longing for an unseen world that God put in our hearts. The true fulfillment of that longing will only happen in God’s presence—but we can explore aspects of that longing, along with other deep hopes and fears, in speculative fiction.

CFBR: What are some of the speculative fiction titles that you have enjoyed enough to read over and over?
Kathy Tyers: Lord of the Rings, of course. More times than I care to confess. Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan novels. C.S. Lewis’s deep space trilogy and Narnia Chronicles. Karen Hancock’s Guardian King series and Zenna Henderson’s stories of the People.

CFBR: What advice would you give to Christian authors who want to write science fiction?
Kathy Tyers: Respect your readers. Everything else is part of that, including good research. For example, if you’re going to write about an evolutionary biologist, then find out what they really believe, how they talk, what they do during the day, and what their personal (and research) goals truly are. Never write a character who’s a two-dimensional doof, but be fair to all viewpoints. Read as widely as you can within your field. Yes, it’s impossible to keep up with what’s being published these days—but do read some of the books your readers will be familiar with. It’ll refresh your mind, suggest new ideas, and give you something to talk about when you get together with your own readers. Finally, just as with any profession, keep your writing in perspective. Your relationships with God and your family come first.

CFBR: Do you prefer to write with music playing, or with only quiet?
Kathy Tyers: Since I’m a musician, music has a deep effect on me. The right music can help propel me through the difficult process of writing a rough draft by setting just the right mood. I need quiet when I edit, though, to make sure the emotions I’m feeling come from what’s on the page—not the background music.

CFBR: Thank-you for the interview Kathy! I’m looking forward to reading the annotated edition of the trilogy as well as the next two novels in the series!

For more information about the release of Kathy’s books visit her website or Marcher Lord Press.


Kathy Tyer books at Amazon