This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Author: Courtney Summers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Date Published:  June 19 2012
Publisher: Saint Martins Griffin

Introduction
       The zombie apocalypse is here. Six kids have taken shelter in an old high school. While everybody else in the group is finding ways to fight for survival, Sloane Price is struggling to find a good reason to stay alive. Nothing in life is going right for Sloane. When she was to home, her father would beat her. The only thing that made life worth living was her sister Lily and their plans to run away together when Sloane got old enough. Six months ago, Lily ran away without her. With Lily gone her father was unbearable. When apocalypse came, Sloane left, and found 5 other kids, Rhys Cary, Harrison, Trace, and Grace. Now at the school, nobody is really ever in a good mood. Nothing looks good. Soon they will run out of water, eventually out of food, and they can never get enough sleep with all the zombies aching to get inside.

Cover
       The cover is pretty cool. I love the blood spatters in the corner.

Characters/Relationships
       The characters in this book are all pretty awesome. No huge complaints. Except, everybody gets super angry at Harrison for crying all the time. When in reality, that is probably what I would be like. I know that I wouldn't be the only one freaking out all the time. I mean, lets be real here, I can't handle a spider. I would not be brave in times like that.
       Rhys and Sloane might like each other, but in my opinion they were both just lonely. It was never super personal or serious.

Conclusion
      I really liked this book. It wasn't action, explosions, or all blood and gore. It tugs on your heart a little and you might end up shedding a tear, but you probably won't end up in a full out cry every time you read the book. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes zombies and is okay with sad elements. I wouldn't recommend this book to younger readers, as there is mention of sex and some clothes do get shed.

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Author: Amanda Hocking
Format Hardcover
Pages: 309
Date Published: April 16 2013
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Introduction
       In the small town of Capri, the beaches are always full of tourists. When three stunningly beautiful girls show up seemingly out of nowhere, people are a bit suspicious. Especially because, a few days before, there were four of them. Now they have there heart set on becoming Gemma’s friend. While swimming one night, she finds Penn Lexi, and Thea, partying and they invite Gemma to join them. She wasn’t with them long before accepting a special drink. The next day, she wakes up at the cove, covered in bruises wrapped in a shawl. She doesn’t remember much after accepting the drink from the girls, but after that day she begins to change. She’s more beautiful than she ever was before, stronger, and a faster swimmer. A downside is that the water seems to be calling her. If she ever wants to find out why all this seems to be happening she will have to get closer to Lexi, Penn, and Thea than she’s comfortable with.

Cover       The cover to this book is very nice. Plus if have a hardcover copy and you happen to look under the dust cover, you’ll see this pretty bonus poster!

Dislikes
       Alright, let’s start things off with Gemma. For one thing, she is unrealistic. She starts finding big fish scales on herself (bigger than any fish around Capri) and just brushes it off. Then, when she needs advice on what to do about Penn, Lexi, and Thea, she goes to of all people, her mentally ill mother…I’m not even joking.
The beginning is super slow. Barley anything happens for about 100 pages. Then I still found that even after things get rolling, there were still large parts of the book where nothing happens.
       Gemma and Alex’s relationship doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I mean Alex is the semi-geeky gamer guy, who isn’t much of an athlete. Then we have Gemma. Her whole life basically revolves around swimming and training. What do they have to talk about other than how creepy Penn, Lexi, and Thea are? They have nothing in common.

Harper
       Harper was a really good character. She defiantly had much more personality than Gemma had. Harper cares about Gemma a lot, kind of like a mother does. Gemma hates this, but her mother isn’t well enough to take care of her anymore and her dad works a lot and is never really home. I found Harper very realistic.

Conclusion
       This book was good. If you can get past the slow parts, you could defiantly enjoy it. I don’t think you would be able to find many boys who would jump at the chance to read the Watersong series, but if you can, that’s fantastic.