Review - Bang (Visions #2) by Lisa McMann

Title: Bang

Author: Lisa McMann

Series: 2nd (Crash)

Pages: 256

Published:  October 8th 2013 by Simon Pulse 

ISBN: 9781442466258

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: Jules should be happy. She saved a lot of people’s lives and she’s finally with Sawyer, pretty much the guy of her dreams. But the nightmare’s not over, because she somehow managed to pass the psycho vision stuff to Sawyer. Excellent. Feeling responsible for what he’s going through and knowing that people’s lives are at stake, Jules is determined to help him figure it all out. But Sawyer’s vision is so awful he can barely describe it, much less make sense of it. All he can tell her is there’s a gun, and eleven ear-splitting shots. Bang. Jules and Sawyer have to work out the details fast, because the visions are getting worse and that means only one thing: time is running out. But every clue they see takes them down the wrong path. If they can’t prevent the vision from happening, lives will be lost. And they may be among the casualties… 

I Give This ...

I have extremely conflicting emotions about this one.  And separating those emotions and evaluating the book for what it was proved to be harder than I thought.  There was that nagging thought in the back of my head that really bugged me.

On one hand, I actually felt that this story was an improvement over the first book.  Jules and Sawyer are acting a little bit more their age.  Their family dynamics are crazy, but they are both pushing the boundaries that I think they should.  And maybe some they shouldn't.  Jules starts lying about almost everything.  But, she can't explain the visions and the need she feels to solve the riddle being seen.  And she's not about to give up Sawyer for their families stupid feuds.  Sawyer is standing up for himself and I'm curious how this might play out in the next book.  He's taken a drastic measure that has some big consequences.

The events of the story are well played out.  The visions seem way less specific this time and are harder to decipher.  This really seems to effect Sawyer and I would not want to see what he sees on repeat all the time.  I admired their courage to see it through even placing themselves in significant danger just to help those in the vision.  They really saved a lot of lives and trauma.

What really bothered me about this, was that I often wondered if this was too soon for this type of event to be written out in literature this way?  I seem to be the only one that has been mentioned this in reviews, so maybe I'm the only one that feels the events of December 2012 are still to raw.  I really wanted to know if the author already had this book partially (or fully) written when Sandy Hook happened or did this come after?  It's something that has weighed on my mind.

I let my emotions ride and decided to give the book its dues.  I liked it despite the emotions it made me feel.  I all enjoyed the hook at the end.  It had a very Final Destination feel to it!

Review - Crash (Visions #1) by Lisa McMann

Title: Crash

Author: Lisa McMann

Series: 1st

Pages: 233

Published: January 8th 2013 by Simon Pulse 

ISBN: 9781442403918

Source: Personal Copy

 

Description: Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that. What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow. The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember. 

I Give This ...


I've only read Cryer's Cross by McMann, but I have several of her other books on my to read list.  I really liked the sound of this one and was willing to try it.  It wasn't all that I was hoping for.

I liked Jules at first.  She lives in a crazy family that owns a pizza shop.  She's in love with the boy who's family own the rival pizza shop.   There's a whole lot of background story there that involves stolen recipes, etc.  So when the parents discover in junior high that Jules and Sawyer are friends, it's quickly squashed.  It leaves Jules heartbroken and wondering how Sawyer could drop their friendship in the blink of an eye.   She tries to convince herself that she doesn't care, but really she knows his every move.   So when she begins to same the vision over and over, she couldn't possibly let him die. 

I was ok with the story up until Jules tries to save the day.  The first thing she does is try to warn Sawyer and confess her undying love in the same moment.  Granted she thinks she's a little on the crazy side and pays her little attention.  Her next course of action is to analyze every little detail of the dream, which of course leads to analyzing every little detail around their restaurant.  She chalks up her stalker tendencies to trying to save Sawyer.  I just found it a little overkill.

The story felt so young even though our characters are not.  I felt like I was reading a middle grade fiction book with the way the character behaved and sometimes talked.   It felt frightfully simple and I think so many details could have been fleshed out a little better.  I also wondered why make Jules father a hoarder?  I just complicated the story and added no real substance (although would make an interesting story all by itself).

I did like the end and how the vision changed at Jules manipulated the chain of events.  It was interesting to read about and I wish the author would have devoted a little bit more time to.  I'm not sure on the next one, I have it for review though..  The end had a sort of cliffhanger to it.  But, I felt it was way to convenient to keep the story going. 

 

Review - The Unwanteds (Unwanteds #1) by Lisa McMann

Title: The Unwanteds

Author: Lisa McMann

Series: 1st in series

Pages: 390

Published: August 30, 2011 by Alladin

ISBN: 9781442407688

Source: Galley Grab

Descrption: Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.  But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

I Give This ...

 

I was excited to read this.  I've enjoyed Lisa McMann's other books.  Plus, this seemed to fit into a genre that I enjoy...middle grade fantasy.  I think it's a worthy ready for those who enjoy the category (adults and kids alike).  But, I'm not sure it has the power to become the next big thing.

I liked Alex at first, but I had a hard time identify with his need to contact his twin.  I got that they were identical twins.  And I know that twins have a special bond.  But, it bothered me that the separation seemed to bother Alex more than it bothered Aaron.  I was strange to watch Alex convince himself that Aaron really wanted and needed to be with him.  He completely disregarded what it might do to the people that inhabited Artime.

I did think the idea of Artime was fascinating, but oddly explained.  The castle (mansion?) itself seemed really intriguing.  But, the descriptions of it seemed unimportant.  I loved the idea of taking blackboards, tubes to get you to certain parts of the castle, and instructions tailored to your strong suits.  But, the story focuses some much on Alex and his desire to contact Aaron.  I feel like so much more could have been done with this story.

So for me this wasn't the next things for middle grade fantasy lovers.  I'll keep looking.  Although, I'm sure I will read the next one if give then chance.  I don't feel the story is completely done yet.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Title: Cryer's Cross

Author: Lisa McMann

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 240

Published: Available now from Simon Pulse

ISBN: 9781416994817

Source: e-galley from publisher

Description: The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

I Give This ...

 

I haven't managed to read McMann's other series yet, so I really had no expectations going into this one.  I ended up enjoying this dark and creepy story far more than I expected.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Kendall's character.  I think it's the psychology background in me.  I was fascinated with her OCD rituals.  They really defined her as a person.  While I didn't enjoy watching her break down, it was a defining part of the story.  Having her best friend disappear effects her in ways one can't even imagine.  I also really liked Jacian.  He was cold and standoffish at first.  But, I think he tried really hard to help and understand Kendall without putting to much pressure on her.

The mystery is the story was done really well.  It really plays with your head how the two teens just disappeared.  And as Kendall starts to discover clues, the story just gets more creepy.  I liked how what was really happening was so deeply seeded in the town's history.  

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading McMann's other books, hopefully sooner rather than later!