Friday, June 14, 2013

Review of Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris and INT giveaway

Unraveling (Unraveling, #1)Goodreads Book Description: Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died...and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet.


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review: After enduring several duds on my list, I decided to treat myself to a book I've been dying to read for a while. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I loved this book!

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris is about Janelle, a teenaged girl who seems just like any other ordinary teen, until she dies... and is brought back to life by a boy she's never noticed. She believes she has been given a second chance and is determined to live life to the fullest. But she also has a streak of curiosity and wants to find out Ben's secret in addition to helping her FBI agent dad solve a case about several dead people who have apparently been killed by a healthy dose of radiation. To make matters worse, her father has found a device that is ticking down to a certain doomsday. Will Janelle be able to figure out the answers before the clock reaches zero?

If I could describe this book in a tagline, it would be Veronica Mars meets Fringe. The first 60% of the book, while beautifully written, doesn't have a ton of surprises. Instead, I would say it is almost an homage of all the wonderful books, movies, and shows that have come before it. In addition to the two I mentioned above, there are shout-outs to X-files, Ender's Game, Before I Fall, and some plot twists that are similar to the teen series and show Roswell. The characters are terrific-- Janelle is a wonderful protagonist-- spunky and smart. Her best friend, Alex, may be my favorite character. Ben is a fascinating love interest, and even though when I realize logically that the way he knows Janelle is kind of creepy, Norris masterfully weaves the story to make it seem normal. The pacing of the story is great, and the last 40% of the book approaches unknown territory, which makes it fun to keep guessing.

Overall, a terrific addition to the small but persistent genre of YA science fiction with a great protagonist and plot twists-- I can't wait to pick up the next installment.


Now enter this great giveaway to win a signed copy of either Unraveling or the sequel, Unbreakable! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

32 comments:

  1. Okay, this one is added to my list! Thanks for the review!

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  2. I would love to have the 4 elements cuz it's so cool!

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  3. Super speed or flying. One of those two. I kinda think Super speed would be way cooler. Clean my house in the blink of an eye :P

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  4. Time travel would be an awesome power. Or control of the elements! =D

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  5. Strenght, because anyone likes to take kare of themselves

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  6. i would like to have the power to control elements!!

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  7. To become invisible, so I can see whatever I want whenever I want.

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  8. The power to control all elements or telepathy. Thank you for this wonderful giveaway and review! I can't wait to read Unraveling!

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  9. I would like to have the power of flying.

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  10. Time traveling! Or controlling elements, like water. :)

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  11. For following by email, I accidentally put in something else. I meant to put in animefreak902@yahoo.com. Sorry! (Copy and paste gone wrong. ><)

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  12. I would want to be indestructible or quick healing and definitely be able to fly!!

    I have been wanting to read this book so bad!!!
    Awesome Giveaway! Fingers crossed!!!

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  13. I would want to be indestructible or quick healing!! And definitely beable to fly!!!

    I've been waiting so long to read this book!!!
    Awesome Giveaway!!!
    Fingers Crossed!!

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  14. I think mind reading would be an awesome power so that I can find out what everybody is thinking. :)

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  15. So glad you got to check out this amazing read-I had such fun and I really want to pick up the sequel to continue the adventure!

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  16. If I could have any super power then I'd definitely want to have a power that can control all the elements! That would prove helpful at times!!
    Thanks for this awesome Giveaway!

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  17. I would love to have the power of persuasion. The possibilities are endless.

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  18. I'd love to teleport! It would be great to travel for free LOL

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  19. Invisibility. Would make sneaking around quite easy!

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  20. The power to read and change someone's thoughts :D

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  21. I would love to be able to have a golden tongue so I can always persuade people and in sales to do what I want and buy what I want them buy.

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  22. I would like to teleport/time travel or be a chameleon. Would never be boring! :)

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  23. I would want kitty powers. The ability to speak with them and have them do my bidding and the ability to shape shift into one. Kitty powers.

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  24. I would want to have..vampire powers! That counts as a super power, right? I mean they super hearing, speed, strength, immortality, and compulsion skills. What more could you want?

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  25. I would love to be able to go though time, to the past and present, that would be so cool

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  26. It would be to move things with my mind!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  27. I think I would like to fly. It seems really fun and peaceful. I'd have to be super careful, though!

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  28. Control the elements! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  29. Invisibility or time travel had been cool

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  30. Thanks for this giveaway!! Book sounds amazing!!<3

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  31. I think I would want to be able to teleport....or time travel....
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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