Book Review: The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher

Title: The Water Wars
Author: Cameron Stratcher
Pages: 240
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: ARC from Publisher

Summary:Would you risk everything for someone you just met?

What if he had a secret worth killing for?

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than oil or gold...

Hundreds of millions of people have already died, and millions more will soon fall-victims of disease, hunger, and dehydration. It is a time of drought and war. The rivers have dried up, the polar caps have melted, and drinkable water is now in the hands of the powerful few. There are fines for wasting it and prison sentences for exceeding the quotas.

But Kai didn't seem to care about any of this. He stood in the open road drinking water from a plastic cup, then spilled the remaining drops into the dirt. He didn't go to school, and he traveled with armed guards. Kai claimed he knew a secret-something the government is keeping from us...

And then he was gone. Vanished in the middle of the night. Was he kidnapped? Did he flee? Is he alive or dead? There are no clues, only questions. And no one can guess the lengths to which they will go to keep him silent. We have to find him-and the truth-before it is too late for all of us.

Review: This book made me thirsty! All the talk of the drought and savoring their last drop of water made my mouth dry. It was really well written. I think the romance between Kai and Vera could have been brought out more. They barely just met then they liked each other, but they never really showed it.

I've gotta say, I love the cover! It's very unique, simple, and yet speaks so many words!

Set in a dystopian world, Vera and her family were struggling to get by. The government controls their water supply so they have to conserve as much water as they can. Her mother is sick and needs water. When Vera meets Kai, a mysterious new boy, her life changes. He drinks water like he has an unlimited amount. Until one day he disappears. As Vera tries to rescue him, her and her brother get captured by water pirates. Vera has to rescue Kai and save herself.

Vera was a pretty relatable character. She had never had a boyfriend before Kai, so everything was new to her. I didn't really think her character was very interesting, though. Her character was a little dull.

Parts of this book were really intense, while others were a bit slow. I gave this book 3 coffee cups. It was worth the read, but I didn't love it.

General Update!

I haven't written a post in over a week! I've been so busy lately. Loaded with homework from school and lots of reading! Here's a general update on what I've been up to:

I finished The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher (review coming soon!)

I am halfway through I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. So far it is really good! If you haven't read it, do it! I really want to see the movie but I'm going to finish the book first. Dianna Agron and Alex Pettyfer make the cutest couple! I think they fit the roles perfectly.

I won an Across The Universe (by Beth Revis) water bottle from Beth Revis's contest! I was super excited when I got it. It's pretty cool! It looks like this --->

After I finish I Am Number Four, I am going to read Legacy by Kate Kaynak (book 3 in one of my favorite series!)

Thanks for checking my blog and following!

Waiting On Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 3rd, 2011

This book looks really good! I really like dystopian books. I've seen some great reviews for this!

Summary:
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Interview with Alex Flinn!

I got to interview the lovely Alex Flinn, who is the author of Beastly, A Kiss In Time and Cloaked. Her book, Beastly, has been turned into a movie starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens. She is one of my favorite authors!

See my review of Cloaked here.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I'm a former opera singer, former lawyer, current writer. I live in Miami with my husband and two kids.

2. Are you writing any more modern fairy tales?
Yes, but I am superstitious about sharing my works in progress until my editor confirms that it's a go.

3. Tell us briefly about your book, Cloaked. What was your inspiration?
Cloaked is the story of Johnny, a poor kid who works in a shoe repair shop at a posh South Beach hotel. When Princess Victoriana, a Paris Hilton-ish royal, stays at the hotel, she asks him for help finding her brother, who has been turned into a from and set loose in the Florida Keys (a chain of islands near Miami). Yearning for adventure, Johnny sets off with the help of a magical cloak and his friend, Meg, to find the prince. Along the way, he fights giants, meets talking animals, and must confront a dangerous witch.

When I talked to teens about Beastly, I realized that many of them were unfamiliar with fairy tales, other than from Disney movies. Like they'd make comments about how Beastly was, "based on my favorite movie" or ask if I was going to adapt any other Disney movies into books. I realized it was a lot different than when I was a kid, because now, with DVDs you can watch these movies over and over, whereas when I was a kid, you might see the Disney movie ONCE and then you'd have to READ the fairy tale if you wanted to experience it again.

Anyway, I started thinking about stories that hadn't been made into Disney movies, stories like The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Six Swans, and The Firebird. Were these stories completely unknown to modern kids? I thought it would be fun to write a story that incorporated these tales. I conceived it as a picaresque tale, where the hero would have to confront various types of adventures.

4. What do you think about the movie for Beastly? Did you have an opinion on the actors, screenplay, etc.?
I haven't seen the whole film. I've read the script and seen parts of it. I'm pleased with the casting. Alex Pettyfer is exactly how I pictured Kyle. Mary-Kate Olsen is a great Kendra, and I was really impressed with Vanessa Hudgens acting when I visited the set. I get a lot of letters from teens who are concerned that Vanessa doesn't have red hair. To me, this is a minor detail. I think she'll be good in the role. I was way more concerned about the script, which is great.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three things you would bring?
Food, water, and a boat! Other than that, maybe the compete works of the Bronte sisters.

Thanks so much Alex for this interview!

You can find Alex here:

Her website

Her blog

Goodreads