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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

"The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer" by Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: September 27th, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Age Group: Young Adult

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
 
It can.
 
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
 
There is.
 
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
 
She's wrong.

One thing I can say about this book, with 100% certainty, is that I'm pretty sure I don't actually know anything when it comes to this story. It's incredibly well written, there is no question there, Michelle Hodkin has a gift. The story is definitely intriguing and keeps you guessing all of the time. We get great character development on our main characters throughout the story, but I still don't know if I believe they are who I read them to be. That's is the most wonderful thing about this book. You are chugging along, fully emerged, learning all of these details about someone or something, and then BAM! Something happens or somebody says something and you aren't sure if what you thought was going on is the real deal anymore. It messes with your mind in the best possible way.

All of that being said, I really liked Mara and what we get of her story. I can't really classify her as a specific type of character, because as we learn, this girl has a lot of layers. I loved how close she was with her brothers, especially Daniel. It's nice to see a book where the siblings actually get along with each other. Her attitude also worked for me. She was no delicate flower, but she wasn't a complete bitch, either. Her attitude toward people could change at any given moment, then change back in the next one. I am a big Noah fan, and not just because he often says all of the right things and acts all swoony. He was pretty arrogant and uncharming in the beginning, but that just made me like him all the more. Also, I think part of it was his consistently loose ties. Of course, Noah has layers too, and as we get further into the story we get to see some sweetness with his cockiness. Jamie was one of my favorites! Dude told it like it was and I respect that. I also loved his Ebola prank, that was priceless. It was too bad that we didn't get to know more about him, but I'm hoping he'll pop back up in the next book.

The ending on this one was definitely a WTF moment, because seriously, how is that possible? So many questions!!! Am I the only one who really wants to know her real name? That's going to bug me :0)



5 comments:

  1. Ahhh! I can't wait to read this. Fantastic review, SarBear! =D

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  2. Towards the end of the book her attitude became irritating at best, going from apalled at her "actions/gift" to being dead set on committing murder. She refused to listen to reason and was determined to shoulder the "responsibility" of protecting others by intentionally trying to end somebody (without knowing all the facts to boot). Overall, it was well worth the read.

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  3. I thought this book was great! I couldn't put it down!

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  4. This seems to be a love it or hate it book. I personally loved it, but I've seen a lot of people who just couldn't get into it. I'm sooooo anxious to read the next one. And no, you aren't the only one waiting to find out her real name. I hated not knowing it. Hopefully it will be something good because I like the name Mara Dyer so hopefully it won't be something like Betty Jones :)

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  5. I thought the book was just ok. I've never met teens that act the way they do in this story. I thought their reactions were closer to kids a lot younger.
    ~mamabunny13

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