Book Review: Stxeamtown

Title: Stxeamtown

Author: John Reinhard Dizon

Genre: Steampunk/Speculative Fiction

Reviewer: Joanne Wilcox

Book Blurb: 

Trip and Lyrica come from opposite sides of the creek that defines the borderline of Streamtown. The mercantile North Side and the agrarian South Side observe different customs and lifestyles that segregate the neighborhoods. Trip and Lyrica communicate by signals across the rooftops and eventually meet and fall in love, only they realize they will have to flee the Aboveground and start a new life in a 'low ground' society they have never known. 

The young lovers soon learn of the plight of the banished rooftop children, and fight for their rights as citizens of Streamtown. But Lyrica's jilted suitor from the Aboveground conspires with Trip's ex-friends to kidnap Lyrica and return her to the rooftops. The Aboveground society is uncovered in the process, and Trip and Lyrica are forced to intercede on behalf of their childhood neighbors, facing the wrath of their new benefactors.

Review:

So... Stxeamtown was an interesting and new read for me. I have never heard anything like this before. It sort of reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, and West Side Story, with the whole star-crossed lovers aspect. 

Book Review: Peaceful Genocide

Title: Peaceful Genocide

Author: J.A. Reynolds

Genre: Sci-fi

Review:

Wow...this book draws in readers with an exciting opening scene. Reynolds wastes no time setting the scene. The novel opens up with Mitzi (one of the two main characters) getting driven to what she thinks is a juvenile detention center. She has barely arrived at the destination before she is pitted against life threatening scenarios. Armed with cryptic messages given by the driver, she has to use the messages to figure out how to get to safety. Fortunately, Mitzi has excellent memory. In fact, she can recall anything and everything that she has ever seen, heard, felt, etc. And her unique ability to do so is what attracts the attention of several scientists to her.

Book Review: A Rebel Comes of Age

Title: A Rebel Comes of Age

Author: Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall

Genre: speculative fiction

Review:

I loved the whole theme/set up of the novel--A Rebel Comes of Age tells the story of a group of homeless teens try to form a safe haven in an unused corporate building. I mean, who hasn't wondered what it would be like to live with a a group of kids, free of adults? The author explores many problems that have the potential to arise in such theoretical situations; for example, characters have to deal with who and how rules are set, how work is divided among the teens and what to do with rule breakers.  In many ways, this book reminded my of Lord of the Flies.

Book Review: Fundamental Problems

Title: Fundamental Problems

Author: Michael J. Tobias

Genre: Short Stories

Review:

Fundamental Problems by Michael J Tobias is a delightful collection of short stories that deal with the "unknown." For example, what happens after death? Does God/a higher being exist? What is "right" and what is "wrong?" While the author doesn't flat out answer these questions, each story explores such topics and allows readers to draw conclusions (or not draw conclusions) for him/herself.