Going Wild by Lisa McMann

Charlie Wilde was just a normal kid, until she moved to the boring state of Arizona and found a bracelet that grants her animal themed powers. At first, she thought it was just super cool and kind of scary, but then she finds out that, because of the bracelet, she is being hunted by a secret organization. Now with her new friends' help, she needs to figure out what the bracelet is and how to work it before getting taken out by this mysterious organization.

I originally read this book because I loved McMann's other series, The Unwanteds, and it was also really great. The fact that all of Charlie's powers are just abilities that animals use on a regular basis was a cool concept. I also enjoyed the story outside of when she was experimenting and saving people with her bracelet. I am so excited to see how the series is going to develop.

The Hadley Academy For The Improbably Gifted by Conor Grennan

I received The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted as a preview copy, all opinions are my own.

Jack Carlson's best friend, Freddy, is always coming up with new conspiracy theories, and today is no different. Freddy believes there is a secret school for training people with abnormal abilities. As per usual, no one including Jack believes him until later that day Jack gets kidnapped and taken to The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted, the same place Freddy had described earlier. Now a few people at the academy think Jack is the foretold chosen one and he is under immense pressure to save everyone from the old enemy who has reappeared and is wreaking havoc.

I really enjoyed this book because the story was so different from what I'm used to reading. The characters were very well designed. This is the first book, maybe a stand alone, but I could also see it becoming a series. The twists and turns in the story definitely kept me guessing.

Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid by Marcus Emerson

Ben Braver is back for his second year at super hero school. After recently defeating Abigail Cutters, the evil lady who tried to take over the world with clones of people made of dirt, everyone wants him to be the hero of the school. Ben doesn't want to be the hero because, besides the take down of Abigail which was a fluke, he also doesn't have a power. Now mysteries appear and new badges reveal themselves. Everyone looks to Ben to save them once again. Will Ben discover a hidden power   to help fight the brand new villains?

This was actually the second book in the series. I want to read the first one though. The plot though didn't really rely on the first book's plot. I thought all of the different powers were cool but the limitations were funny, like how Noah's fire power was crazy awesome, but it only worked when he ate beef jerky. I loved the classic theme but with a new spin.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Wade Watts is a teenage kid in the year of 2044. The whole earth is in chaos and people escape their lives via an online virtual reality experience called the OASIS. When the creator of the OASIS, James Halliday, passes away, his will puts out a challenge that whoever can find the OASIS's secret Easter egg will inherit his fortune. Wade decides to dedicate his whole life to finding the egg. Years pass, no one finds anything, and most people quit the hunt until one day Wade stumbles upon the first key. This causes all of the OASIS to erupt in chaos with Wade right in the middle. Now with the pressure on, Wade must join up with friends and fight with enemies to be the first to find the secret or the future of the OASIS will be doomed.

This booked surprised me with how original it was. Most books have at least a few traits like other books, but this story was something I had never seen before. The story was filled with action, comedy, and heart. There were some more serious moments, but it didn't prevent the story from progressing. This is one of my top five favorite books of all time.

The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

Callum Hunt, or Call, has been raised all his life to hate magic and the institution where it is taught, the Magisterium. His Dad has even prepared him to purposely fail the entrance exam to the Magisterium. Call ends up gettting the worst score, but the top master, Master Rufus, chooses him as an apprentice anyhow. Now he must learn how to use magic while overcoming bullies who think he doesn't belong, a friend who turns out to be the chosen one, and his own lack of skill.

I really liked this book! The story was so enthralling and vivid, it made me feel as if I was right beside Call as he went through the Magesterium. The story represented a regular story with a new spin. The different plot twists and cliff hangers kept the story moving and there was a never a dull moment.

The Iron Trial is the first book in the five book Magisterium series, I'm looking forward to the rest of them.