YA Book Review--Starters

ebook
Source: Net Galley
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
URL: http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/starters/



Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 


He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .


I don't usually let the cover of a book influence whether or not I'll read it...but this was one exception.
I LOVED this cover. It's beautiful and mysetrious and unique!

Starters is Lissa Price's debut novel, and it's written so wonderfully that you'd never know it!

The plot reminded me a bit of the short-lived Fox TV show, 'Dollhouse', with rich people coming in to rent and use other people bodies.
But that's as far as the comparison goes, really.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fun and vivid. The author makes you care what happens to them.

The twists and turns were great to try to figure out. Just when you think things couldn't possibly get any worse for Callie...they do.
And speaking of Callie, she's definitely a great character for teen girls to identify with. She's strong, she's smart, she's resiliant and she would do anything for her family.

Teens between the ages of about 15 and 17 will love this book--especially teen girls.
It's got a great amount of sci-fi, mystery, thrills and, yes, even romance.

I'm definitely looking forward to book 2...especially after the way Starters ends!