ACID by Emma Pass

Title: ACID

Author: Emma Pass

Release Date: 25th April 2013

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:

2113. In Jenna Strong’s world, ACID – the most brutal, controlling police force in history – rule supreme. No throwaway comment or muttered dissent goes unnoticed – or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a bloody crime she struggles to remember.

The only female inmate in a violent high-security prison, Jenna has learned to survive by any means necessary. And when a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID – and to uncover the truth about what really happened on that dark night two years ago.

In A Nutshell:
Set in a futuristic UK, ACID explores themes of science and technology, government regimes and human rights. ACID is fast-paced with a feisty heroine in Jenna Strong. Dystopian fans will want to read it all in one sitting as the secrets of Jenna’s life are uncovered as she fights for freedom in an isolated, police-run nation.

My Review:
ACID is a dystopian novel following the pitfalls that sabotage and shape the life of Jenna Strong. The story covers seven different periods of Jenna’s life, beginning with her time in prison and her subsequent escape, aided by an unknown group. It is impossible to outline the story without spoilers but I will say she has the opportunity to start her life afresh a number of times, meets a variety of people, some earnest and trustworthy, others manipulative, psychologically scarred and harbouring ulterior motives. She spends a lot of time on the run and is subjected to multiple brainwashing techniques, with and without her consent, as the secrets of her complicated life begin to reveal themselves to Jenna and the reader. To say Jenna endures a lot in a very short space of time (8 months!) would be quite the understatement.

I really enjoyed the majority of the book however there was a lull in the story for about 50 pages (out of 400+). While this was frustrating, it was also necessary for the story arc to be pieced together. I liked that there was no cliff-hanger ending and that the story was wrapped up, even if it was a little abrupt for me.

For the most part, I was on edge with the pace of the novel, desperate to find out how Jenna would get out of the situations she found herself in. It’s the kind of novel you have to sit down and read all at once because you just want to know how it ends and make sure the bad guys get their comeuppance. ACID explored themes of science and technology, government regimes and human rights. Set in a futuristic UK, this is definitely one for dystopian fans.

Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore

Title: Shadow Wave
Series: Cherub Book 12
Author: Robert Muchamore

Release Date: 1st September 2010

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
After a tsunami causes massive devastation to a tropical island, its governor sends in the bulldozers to knock down villages, replacing them with luxury hotels.

Guarding the corrupt governor’s family isn’t James Adams’ idea of the perfect mission, especially as it’s going to be his last as a CHERUB agent. And then retired colleague Kyle Blueman comes up with an unofficial and highly dangerous plan of his own.

James must choose between loyalty to CHERUB, and loyalty to his oldest friend.

In A Nutshell:
Shadow Wave highlights environmental issues, human rights and government corruption. A fitting and satisfying ending.

My Review:
Shadow Wave is the twelfth and final Cherub book featuring our hero James Adams. James is now seventeen and, after finishing up his undercover assignment with the Brigands M.C., he is looking at one last mission before retiring as a Cherub agent.

Just under a third of the book is dedicated to a mission James' friend and ex-agent Kyle worked on four years earlier, which provides us with all the background information as to why James will need to make a decision whether to meet up with Kyle and be part of an unauthorised mission, or keep his assigned final job.

Cherub is a guilty pleasure of mine and I feel that Shadow Wave was a terrific note to end on. Not only is the subject matter important for today's youth to be aware of, but it is also relevant to them as most would know of the tsunami that is being referred to. Shadow Wave highlights environmental issues, human rights and government corruption. A fitting ending.


About The Series:
For those of you unfamiliar with the Cherub series, author Robert Muchamore created the series after his nephew complained about there being nothing interesting to read. The series revolves around a secret branch of MI5 that trains children to become spies, as people never suspect children. After completing training, kids, from the age of 12 until they are 17, are sent on missions all over the world in an attempt to help bring down illegal operations.

James Adams is our main character and he is supported by his sister Lauren, girlfriend Kerry, best friend Kyle and a host of other agents and ex-cherub agents who now run the compound. We first meet an eleven year old James in The Recruit after he and Lauren are left homeless after the death of their mother. Each book in the series covers roughly 6 months or so in James life so while the first book is written with an eleven year old in mind, as James gets older, so does the content.