Just Finished Reading … Unraveling
Review of Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: ARC traded with another blogger
Tagline: Stop the Countdown. Save the World.
Content: A heads-up: this book has more profanity than the typical YA
My summary: High school junior Janelle is a caretaker — she lifeguards, parents her younger brother, and manages her bipolar mother. On the last day of summer, she’s hit and killed by a truck. As she lies dying, wishing she’d enjoyed her life more, Ben, a stoner kid from school, bends over and heals her. Once she’s recovered, Janelle pesters Ben for answers. Then more strange stuff starts happening. Janelle’s FBI agent dad is investigating cases of strange, melted bodies. The guy whose truck hit Janelle doesn’t seem to exist. Janelle realizes that something terrible is going to happen — something cataclysmic — and she may be the only person who can put all the pieces together and stop it.
My take: This book was a fun, page-turning read. I loved Janelle. Tough and sarcastic, she’s the kind of character Kim Bauer in 24 could have been if the show’s writers hadn’t made her a dimwitted damsel in distress. Janelle’s no dimwit — she’s a renaissance girl who can shoot a gun, keep house for her family, analyze Dickens, and save drowning victims.
Ben’s a bit more of an enigma. He and his stoner friends are clearly not what they seem. About halfway through the book, there’s a whopper of a revelation that veered the book sharply into X-Files territory. This threw me for a loop just a bit. Let’s just say I’m more cynical Scully than open-minded Mulder in the sci-fi department. But I went with it, and enjoyed the ride.
All in all, I’d say that Unraveling is well-plotted and fast-paced. Definitely put it on your list if you’re a fan of:
I so need this book!! I think I would love it. The comparison to the X-Files and to 24 have me even more sold on this book!!
It's coming out really soon! Not much longer to wait!
I love sci fi! I've been dying to read this book for a long time. I was pretty hooked by the storyline of the girl dying and the boy bringing her back to life.
For some reason I went into this book thinking it was about a girl struck by lightning, so the whole sci-fi thing kind of surprised me. But I enjoyed it nonetheless!
I'm glad you liked it. I really want to check this one out!
It was a lot of fun!
Yay! So glad you liked this one! The synopsis sounded so good! I've got it pre-ordered 🙂
Ooh, let me know what you think!!
I totally want to read this one! Sounds right up my alley! Great review! I'm glad that the protagonist is such a fierce, complex heroine! Can't wait to read it!
She is a really fun heroine. No TSTL issues here!!
I added this to my tbr. I don't know anyone else that has read it yet, so thanks for the review!
Be sure to let me know what you thought!
There are so many different aspects of this book that have totally hooked me! Can't wait to read! 🙂
Let me know if you liked it!
I'm not sure if I would be interested in the book if the "similar books" are the ones u listed..
Well, it's not paranormal. There is romance, but they have to save the world, so it's not the main focus — which is a pet peeve of mine in save-the-world books. If we're all going to die, can you please save the making out for after you save us?
It's fast-paced, with short chapters. It's not super-heavy on the sci-fi…
If there are any other questions I can answer, let me know!
It does sound interesting & I love that you got a surprise midway through.
Oh, you know how much I loooved this book! It's the first book I've read in a while that actually surprised me with it's plot twists. Lots of "Wo, didn't see that coming" moments. It seems to get criticized that it's too much like the tv show Fringe, but I've never seen that show so I can't make comparisons. What about you?
I haven't read any other reviews than yours…
I watched a little of Fringe, but as I'm not so into the sci-fi thing, I stopped after a few episodes.
Plus, I was so distracted by Pacey from DC. That threw me off…
Okay, I'm reading some reviews which also compare it to Roswell (which I did not watch) and Veronica Mars (which I LOVED).
I don't get the VM comparison except that Veronica was snarky too.
I find that sci fi YA gets very tough criticism. First, it often gets torn apart on the science (don't look to me for that, LOL) and second, sci fi fans seem to have encyclopedic memories (while my mind is like a sieve.)
Okay, now I get the Veronica Mars parallel that a reviewer cited. It's a subplot in season one of VM that is also a minor subplot in Unraveling.
I had never heard about this book until your review but I'm excited now! I loved the x-files and Janelle sounds like my kind of girl! Thanks for the great review and for turning me on to something new!
Let me know if you like it!!