SERIES: Under the Never Sky, book 1
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUBLICATION DATE: January 1, 2012
ISBN: 9780062131959
PAGES: 376
SOURCE: my library
GENRE: science fiction
GIVE IT TO: anyone!
SUMMARY: Banished from her perfect life in Reverie, 17-year old Aria must learn to fend for herself on the Outside, where powerful Aether storms, starvation, and cannibalistic savages are a daily threat. Hoping to survive long enough to find her missing mother, Aria forms a fragile truce with Perry, a young Outsider attempting to track down his 7-year old nephew, who was kidnapped by Aria’s people.
REVIEW: Easily one of my favorite books of 2012! If you are on the fence about reading this, read some of the scores of 5-star reviews on Goodreads, or better yet, watch the book trailer (see below). As soon as I saw the trailer, I knew I would be reading UNS as soon as I could get my hands on it. Luckily, I had already purchased it for my library AND it was actually checked in. Score!
I loved EVERYTHING about this book–the characters, the romance, the unique plot, the surprises toward the end. I could really feel the romance between Aria and Perry, whose relationship builds nice and slowly (no insta-love!!!!). They start off as strangers, get under each other’s skin, slowly become friends, then finally, finally, finally! share that sweet first kiss.
Told in alternating perspectives (Aria’s and Perry’s), Under the Never Sky broke my latest streak of so-so reads. I recommend this book highly for most anyone, particularly those who love the string of YA dystopias with romance that have been so popular lately. Under the Never Sky stands out among the very best.
UNS was recently nominated for this year’s Goodreads Choice Awards. Even better, Veronica Rossi is a debut author–no doubt in my mind she’ll do very well. Bring on that sequel!
THE BOTTOM LINE: A must-read that has mass reader appeal. This is the kind of book I could read twice.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We have one copy, but I have already ordered three more in anticipation of large numbers of holds. When I love a book this much, hold requests are inevitable.
READALIKES: Divergent (Roth), Blood Red Road (Young), Wither (DeStefano)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
- Overall: 5/5–may be my favorite read of 2012!
- Creativity: 5/5
- Characters: 5/5
- Engrossing: 5/5–I read most of it in one sitting
- Writing: 5/5
- Appeal to teens: 5/5
- Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
- Language: mild–I noticed no language at all, but I was so wrapped up in the story, I would not be surprised if I missed something.
- Sexuality: mild-medium–off the page rape attempt and two intercourse scenes. None of these scenes are described in detail. Appreciation of body parts (Aria’s curves, Perry’s chest and legs). Also a couple of mild references to menstruation and getting pregnant.
- Violence: medium–discussion of cannibalism (none takes place); several murders by knife/arrows/beheading
- Drugs/Alcohol: mild; teen characters get drunk on “Luster” (which sounds like a strong beer)