Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

Revived by Cat Patrick

publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

release date: May 8th, 2012

hardcover, 336 pages

intended audience: Young adult

rating:




source: from publisher for honest review

description: As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

Review: Even after loving Cat Patrick's first book, Forgotten, I went into Revived with a little bit of trepidation. From the synopsis, it sounds a little science fiction-y and definitely a very different feel from Forgotten. But I found that I loved Revived. Absolutely loved it. Here's what I love most about Cat Patrick's stories: she puts her characters in very extraordinary situations--- whether they be paranormal or science fiction---but she keeps the story very human. Revived may be about a drug that brings people back from the dead, but beyond that it almost reads like a contemporary novel. Daisy is just a very typical teen who wants what every teen wants---some stability, some normalcy, and love whether it be from family, friends, or romance. Granted she has this huge secret that she's been revived over and over again, but it's just part of her life and she deals with it the only way she knows how. And what turns out to be the best part of this story is not the Revived drug at all---it's about life and death and how someone who has always taken death so lightly reacts when faced with the permanency and loss of a death that can't be reversed. It really was a wonderfully touching story.

Along with that, each character was interesting and the character-related twists were heartbreaking (even though I had my suspicions about one major one), the suspense was gripping as what was really going on in the Revived program unfolded, and the love story was full of this great emotional tension that drew me right in. I think that had a lot to do with the fact that it was not, and could not, be all about them. They were both dealing with something much bigger that just their attraction.

Highly, highly recommend this one!

Visit Cat Patrick's site: www.catpatrick.com

Purchase Revived at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.


Revived
by Cat Patrick

hitting shelves May 8, 2012 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

description: As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

My thoughts: Cat Patrick really impressed me with Forgotten, so I'm definitely looking forward to her second novel! Love this cover, it's not like anything else I've seen lately. Kind of makes me think of her looking out from a body bag, so it fits the story. Can't wait to read this!

Review: Forgotten

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

release date: June 7th, 2011

hardcover, 288 pages

intended audience: Young adult

rating:




source: from publisher for honest review

description: Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

Review: I loved this book! There's not a lot that can be explained without spoiling too much, but this book exceeded any expectations I might have had for it, even after reading several great reviews for it. I'm sure we've all seen the subject of extreme short-term memory loss (also known as anterograde amnesia---there's a bit of trivia for you!! ;D) used in books and movies before, but the unique spin that Cat Patrick gave this story is what made it so gripping.

When the protagonist, London, remembers somethings, its not from the past, its from the future. My heart just went out to her trying to keep her life together as best as she could when every night her brain gets wiped clean. She has to keep extensive notes to herself about everything from conversations she had, to what she wore, to who she met. What made this even more interesting was that she decides what (and who) she wants to remember and what she would rather forget. When she meets Luke, she is completely drawn to him and they start dating, but she can't see him at all in her future memories and she has to find out why. The story took turns that I never would have expected. There were definitely several jaw-dropping moments that had me gripping the book in anticipation and growling at anyone that dared to interrupt me! In the last half of the book, the story races along, little surprises jumping out everywhere. It may have been the "mother of a little guy" in me, but there were parts that were literally so tense and emotional that I cried.

Such a wonderful story. It has it all---laughs, tears, love, friendship, and a completely unpredictable gripping plot. I fell head over heels for this book, and it will definitely be one that I recommend to everyone and will be rereading myself soon!

You can find Cat Patrick's site here!

Be sure to check out the LB-teen site for a fun video diary from the main character, London!

Purchase Forgotten at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound