emiliebookworld's review
When I was first approached to review Hunted by author Cheryl Rainfield, I hadn't actually heard a single thing about the book. But the summary made it sound really interesting. And after a bit of a slow start I found myself having difficulty putting it down and really enjoying the story.
Caitlyn and her mom have been on the run pretty much her whole life. Both of them are paranormals trying to escape the government and the ParaTroopers who believe paranormals are a threat. But it wasn't always that way for Caitlyn and her mom. There was a time when they were a family living a relatively normal life. That is until the day her dad was killed by the government and her brother, Daniel, was kidnapped by a woman in the crowd. Now in a new town and at a new school, things seem to be changing in Caitlyn's life. She makes new friends and even starts to fall for Alex, a normal boy. But one day Caitlyn comes face to face with Daniel. Except he's not the same Daniel that Caitlyn remembers. And the threatens everything that Caitlyn believes in.
I hadn't really heard all that much about Cheryl Rainfield or her books until she approached me to review Hunted. I decided to give it a shot and didn't go in with too many expectations. And I came out on the other side having really loved the story. Though I'll admit that at first I thought the story was a little slow to start. I even worried that it wouldn't pick up. But when the story did get moving I found myself getting hooked. Soon enough I had trouble putting the book down, and I wanted nothing more than to find out what would happen next. And from the way it ended I'm hoping there might just be a sequel.
The concept of paranormals simply as people who have different abilities. I especially liked that everyone's power was different and it wasn't necessarily obvious that they had a psychic ability. As for the actual characters in the story, I really liked Caitlyn. You could tell that she didn't exactly have an easy life and I wanted nothing more than for things to work out for her. And every time things seemed to be turning around something bad happened in her life. All this to say that I was rooting for Caitlyn the whole way through. The other characters provided an interesting mix of personalities. Rachel and Alex were definitely great friends to Caitlyn. You couldn't have asked for more loyal people considering the circumstances. And Daniel almost seemed like he had a split personality at times. Either that, or he was a really good actor. But that still doesn't mean I liked him very much.
Hunted was a surprising read. I enjoyed it a lot more than I originally thought I would. If the opportunity arrises, I definitely recommend that you pick it up and give it a chance, it might just surprise you.
Caitlyn and her mom have been on the run pretty much her whole life. Both of them are paranormals trying to escape the government and the ParaTroopers who believe paranormals are a threat. But it wasn't always that way for Caitlyn and her mom. There was a time when they were a family living a relatively normal life. That is until the day her dad was killed by the government and her brother, Daniel, was kidnapped by a woman in the crowd. Now in a new town and at a new school, things seem to be changing in Caitlyn's life. She makes new friends and even starts to fall for Alex, a normal boy. But one day Caitlyn comes face to face with Daniel. Except he's not the same Daniel that Caitlyn remembers. And the threatens everything that Caitlyn believes in.
I hadn't really heard all that much about Cheryl Rainfield or her books until she approached me to review Hunted. I decided to give it a shot and didn't go in with too many expectations. And I came out on the other side having really loved the story. Though I'll admit that at first I thought the story was a little slow to start. I even worried that it wouldn't pick up. But when the story did get moving I found myself getting hooked. Soon enough I had trouble putting the book down, and I wanted nothing more than to find out what would happen next. And from the way it ended I'm hoping there might just be a sequel.
The concept of paranormals simply as people who have different abilities. I especially liked that everyone's power was different and it wasn't necessarily obvious that they had a psychic ability. As for the actual characters in the story, I really liked Caitlyn. You could tell that she didn't exactly have an easy life and I wanted nothing more than for things to work out for her. And every time things seemed to be turning around something bad happened in her life. All this to say that I was rooting for Caitlyn the whole way through. The other characters provided an interesting mix of personalities. Rachel and Alex were definitely great friends to Caitlyn. You couldn't have asked for more loyal people considering the circumstances. And Daniel almost seemed like he had a split personality at times. Either that, or he was a really good actor. But that still doesn't mean I liked him very much.
Hunted was a surprising read. I enjoyed it a lot more than I originally thought I would. If the opportunity arrises, I definitely recommend that you pick it up and give it a chance, it might just surprise you.
the_lady_reads's review
4.0
As seen on Ed and Em's Reviews!
3.5 Stars!
I really enjoyed Hunted. The plot was incredibly and uniquely captivating. It kept my interest until the very end.
There were some parts where I felt the book was about to the end due to the phrasing, but there was actually like fifty percent more left in the book. That was a bit annoying, but didn't really distract me from wanting to finish the book.
There are a few shocks n this books that weren't really "shocking." And although the writing was great, the "shockers" could've been better with some subtle tweaks. The timing seemed longer than it actually was. What I thought was a month, was actually a week. That was annoying for me because time settings are really important to me.
And the time setting of this novel does not match the way it is written. Ms. Rainfield tries to project time moving quickly, but the plot often felt slow, which is why I felt that it had been a month. It needed a lot more structure in that area.
The narrator is really easy to read from though. She's not your average teenager. She has powers and has to keep them hidden for her safety and the safety of her mother. Again, the plot was so cool! There are so many dystopian novels being released that many of them have started to run together. This was a much different experience. While the plot was very interesting, I had a lot of trouble connecting with some of the characters. I didn't really like Alex, and I had some trouble liking Caitlyn, the main character, after a while. She was very repetitive and at parts, too whiny for my taste. Caitlyn's mother really annoyed me. She was a typical single parent that had a hard time taking responsibility and being a parent. Rachel was definitely my favorite character. She brought a lot to the story and she was a great friend to Caitlyn.
The last few chapters were amazing. They really tied up the novel well, though there is definitely room for a sequel! I couldn't put the book down for the last scenes of this story. They were written brilliantly and made reading through my pet peeves totally worth it!
Cheryl Rainfield does a great job with the writing. The expressionism is perfect for this young adult novel. Some authors have trouble keeping up the a teenager focused plot, but Ms. Rainfield does not have that problem. Very refreshing. With just a little tweaking and a bit of expansion, this book would be a five star novel for me. Though it had some troubles, it was still a great read.
If you haven't already, you should definitely give this paranormal dystopian a shot!
I received a free e-copy of this novel for a blog tour in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 Stars!
I really enjoyed Hunted. The plot was incredibly and uniquely captivating. It kept my interest until the very end.
There were some parts where I felt the book was about to the end due to the phrasing, but there was actually like fifty percent more left in the book. That was a bit annoying, but didn't really distract me from wanting to finish the book.
There are a few shocks n this books that weren't really "shocking." And although the writing was great, the "shockers" could've been better with some subtle tweaks. The timing seemed longer than it actually was. What I thought was a month, was actually a week. That was annoying for me because time settings are really important to me.
And the time setting of this novel does not match the way it is written. Ms. Rainfield tries to project time moving quickly, but the plot often felt slow, which is why I felt that it had been a month. It needed a lot more structure in that area.
The narrator is really easy to read from though. She's not your average teenager. She has powers and has to keep them hidden for her safety and the safety of her mother. Again, the plot was so cool! There are so many dystopian novels being released that many of them have started to run together. This was a much different experience. While the plot was very interesting, I had a lot of trouble connecting with some of the characters. I didn't really like Alex, and I had some trouble liking Caitlyn, the main character, after a while. She was very repetitive and at parts, too whiny for my taste. Caitlyn's mother really annoyed me. She was a typical single parent that had a hard time taking responsibility and being a parent. Rachel was definitely my favorite character. She brought a lot to the story and she was a great friend to Caitlyn.
The last few chapters were amazing. They really tied up the novel well, though there is definitely room for a sequel! I couldn't put the book down for the last scenes of this story. They were written brilliantly and made reading through my pet peeves totally worth it!
Cheryl Rainfield does a great job with the writing. The expressionism is perfect for this young adult novel. Some authors have trouble keeping up the a teenager focused plot, but Ms. Rainfield does not have that problem. Very refreshing. With just a little tweaking and a bit of expansion, this book would be a five star novel for me. Though it had some troubles, it was still a great read.
If you haven't already, you should definitely give this paranormal dystopian a shot!
I received a free e-copy of this novel for a blog tour in exchange for my honest review.
soulkissed2003's review
3.0
Caitlyn is a teenager on the run. Her Paranormal abilities make her a target. Not only is the government after her for her telepathic abilities, but "Normals", too, would turn her in out of fear. In fact, she and her mom have been hiding for years, since a mob murdered her father. Her brother was lost that day, too. She isn't even sure what became of him. All this, and high school, too! It's hard to trust anyone.
Modern fiction for tweens and teens tends to lean heavily on supernatural themes, and it works, as a general rule. This book was an interesting story, but I felt the plot line fell somewhere in the midline as far as the competition in the book market is concerned. I was simply left with the feeling that there could have been a little more to it. The writing style is age appropriate, clean, and well crafted.
This title was released in late 2011, through Westside Books. ISBN: 978-1-934813-62-1. Suggested retail price is $16.95.
(As a side note, this author also published "Scars", which tackled the tough issue of cutting, which is becoming more widespread among teens today. I think that book would be worth a look.)
Modern fiction for tweens and teens tends to lean heavily on supernatural themes, and it works, as a general rule. This book was an interesting story, but I felt the plot line fell somewhere in the midline as far as the competition in the book market is concerned. I was simply left with the feeling that there could have been a little more to it. The writing style is age appropriate, clean, and well crafted.
This title was released in late 2011, through Westside Books. ISBN: 978-1-934813-62-1. Suggested retail price is $16.95.
(As a side note, this author also published "Scars", which tackled the tough issue of cutting, which is becoming more widespread among teens today. I think that book would be worth a look.)
rumpfie's review
4.0
I won this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. I looked forward to reading it because I love the genre its written for (Paranormal Young Adult). Teaching 10th grade Social Studies, I enjoy giving students recommendations for books to read, and taking their recommendations myself. Overall this will definitely be a book I recommend to my students for a couple reasons that I've listed in this review.
Caitlyn lives in a world much like ours now, except one difference there are Paras and Normals. The government has started a smear campaign to make Normals think the Paras are dangerous and inferior. Paras are being rounded up, tortured, and enslaved by the government. Caitlyn is hiding from that fate. She is on the run with her mother, she is searching for her brother who went missing during the riots, she is learning to do new things with her powers, and she is being hunted by several different groups of people who want to use her for her powers or worst kill her. This book is her struggle to fight the oppression, to make right what has been wronged, and to bring awareness to the problem.
I enjoyed this book very much and there were only three things that bugged me about this novel. Do they hurt the overall story? Not that much. Would I recommend this to others? Oh heck yes. They are just a few minor plot details/development issues I didn't like, the parts that I did like make up for the flaws tenfold.
Issues I had with the novel:
The first thing wasn't that big of a deal, but I still feel I should acknowledge it. In the beginning the reader is really thrown into the book. The reader is immediately immersed in the world of Caitlyn --her fears, her powers, her life, her past, her desires all within the first couple chapters. It’s a lot of information to take in all at once.
I'm not sure it could have been written better, it was informative, but it was a little: I’m doing this because of this, and these people are after me because I’m powerful and these events happened in my past so that’s why I’m like this. Too much explanation, where I would have preferred to see it gradually introduced.
The second was the use of the term "fingering." Fingering meant to figure out a person was a para and turn them into the government. I don't know if I just have a perverted mind but I can't imagine that term ever being used in society, not with the connotations it has today. I had a problem taking the terminology used seriously, which was not a good thing since it is a serious part of the book. Caitlyn's fear is someone would turn her in, someone would find her out, someone would finger her-- see what I mean? Some other word would have been better.
The third thing I did not like was the romance between Caitlyn and the love interest. It is just too sudden, too desperate, no build to it. All of a sudden they were just madly in love with each other with NO explanation, why, nothing. Love at first sight is about the only explanation and I don’t buy that. I just have such a problem with this. I hate when young adult books do this, and so many of them do. I just don't like what it tells the readers. Basically saying lust is love. In order to love someone you must know them. Not just see them be interested, be curious, and then decide YEAH I'm in love. Let’s risk everything to be together. It just is a bad message.
What was great about the novel:
First, the historical feel to the novel. Rainfield cites specific historical events during the course of her novel comparing what was happening to the Paras and Caitlyn to what happened in our history (example: the Holocaust, the African American slaves etc). Being a history teacher I loved it. I saw the parallels in our history and what was happening to the paras. I saw the mass hysteria, the fear of standing against the government, the same reactions and catalysts that happen in our real history, and how they get out of hand, and result in horrible murders, genocide, and enslavement. The Underground, which was meant to protect the paras, the punishments to those Normals who were hiding and helping paras, the fact that the government had the right to torture anyone suspected in helping paras. It’s all relevant to society today. It’s the Underground Railroad during the days of slavery in the United States; it’s the Anne Frank hiding in the attic during the Holocaust; it’s the Patriot Act that was imposed on us after 9-11. Its turning in your friends for fear you and your family would be hurt if you didn’t. It’s everything that is a part of our history. It’s how easily we believe what we are told; it’s how scary and realistic it is for no one to stand up against oppressors, especially ones as large as the government. I really LOVED the realness of the world Rainfield set up and created.
Another part of this book I really liked is the use of Caitlyn’s blog. It is her way of showing Normals, that there are peaceful paras out there and they just want to be treated fairly. I thought it was interesting and a nice way to include technology. Too often is modern day technology such as cell phones, computers, and internet omitted from novels today and let us be honest what teenager doesn’t have a cell phone now? It helped teach us about her opinions on the matters of the world she lives in. She is a strong character with strong morals of what was right and wrong. She is the perfect example of use words not violence to solve problems. Bring awareness to the problem, and hopefully people will realize they were wrong and good will come out of it. Her blog also says: don't stay quiet when there is wrong in the world. Do something, every little bit counts.
Another part I liked about this novel was her mother is present most of the novel and doesn’t just let her get away with everything. That’s another pet peeve of mine when it comes to young adult, I really dislike when the main characters parents are missing from the novel. It’s a cop out on the author’s part and Rainfield did not fail here. Caitlyn’s mother was there, her family made her who she was, and helped guide her decisions.
Lastly, and this is a spoiler so I’m hiding it, but I really liked the ending of the book.
People witnessed the crime first hand, and were unable to look away, unable to ignore the harsh reality of the world they lived in. The pressure they put on the government when Caitlyn was being taken away was realistic. She had the mob on her side and therefore she lived.
The best part though is not that she gets free. It’s when they slap the tracker on her wrist, because you’re never free. NO matter how much the world changes, hate-- hate like Rainfield has built, never truly goes away, not immediately anyways. Acceptance and reform take time and until the government has new leaders, and new ideas Caitlyn escaped only temporarily but not forever and there will be more events that change this society. Whether for better or worst we don’t know.
Read it!
Caitlyn lives in a world much like ours now, except one difference there are Paras and Normals. The government has started a smear campaign to make Normals think the Paras are dangerous and inferior. Paras are being rounded up, tortured, and enslaved by the government. Caitlyn is hiding from that fate. She is on the run with her mother, she is searching for her brother who went missing during the riots, she is learning to do new things with her powers, and she is being hunted by several different groups of people who want to use her for her powers or worst kill her. This book is her struggle to fight the oppression, to make right what has been wronged, and to bring awareness to the problem.
I enjoyed this book very much and there were only three things that bugged me about this novel. Do they hurt the overall story? Not that much. Would I recommend this to others? Oh heck yes. They are just a few minor plot details/development issues I didn't like, the parts that I did like make up for the flaws tenfold.
Issues I had with the novel:
The first thing wasn't that big of a deal, but I still feel I should acknowledge it. In the beginning the reader is really thrown into the book. The reader is immediately immersed in the world of Caitlyn --her fears, her powers, her life, her past, her desires all within the first couple chapters. It’s a lot of information to take in all at once.
I'm not sure it could have been written better, it was informative, but it was a little: I’m doing this because of this, and these people are after me because I’m powerful and these events happened in my past so that’s why I’m like this. Too much explanation, where I would have preferred to see it gradually introduced.
The second was the use of the term "fingering." Fingering meant to figure out a person was a para and turn them into the government. I don't know if I just have a perverted mind but I can't imagine that term ever being used in society, not with the connotations it has today. I had a problem taking the terminology used seriously, which was not a good thing since it is a serious part of the book. Caitlyn's fear is someone would turn her in, someone would find her out, someone would finger her-- see what I mean? Some other word would have been better.
The third thing I did not like was the romance between Caitlyn and the love interest. It is just too sudden, too desperate, no build to it. All of a sudden they were just madly in love with each other with NO explanation, why, nothing. Love at first sight is about the only explanation and I don’t buy that. I just have such a problem with this. I hate when young adult books do this, and so many of them do. I just don't like what it tells the readers. Basically saying lust is love. In order to love someone you must know them. Not just see them be interested, be curious, and then decide YEAH I'm in love. Let’s risk everything to be together. It just is a bad message.
What was great about the novel:
First, the historical feel to the novel. Rainfield cites specific historical events during the course of her novel comparing what was happening to the Paras and Caitlyn to what happened in our history (example: the Holocaust, the African American slaves etc). Being a history teacher I loved it. I saw the parallels in our history and what was happening to the paras. I saw the mass hysteria, the fear of standing against the government, the same reactions and catalysts that happen in our real history, and how they get out of hand, and result in horrible murders, genocide, and enslavement. The Underground, which was meant to protect the paras, the punishments to those Normals who were hiding and helping paras, the fact that the government had the right to torture anyone suspected in helping paras. It’s all relevant to society today. It’s the Underground Railroad during the days of slavery in the United States; it’s the Anne Frank hiding in the attic during the Holocaust; it’s the Patriot Act that was imposed on us after 9-11. Its turning in your friends for fear you and your family would be hurt if you didn’t. It’s everything that is a part of our history. It’s how easily we believe what we are told; it’s how scary and realistic it is for no one to stand up against oppressors, especially ones as large as the government. I really LOVED the realness of the world Rainfield set up and created.
Another part of this book I really liked is the use of Caitlyn’s blog. It is her way of showing Normals, that there are peaceful paras out there and they just want to be treated fairly. I thought it was interesting and a nice way to include technology. Too often is modern day technology such as cell phones, computers, and internet omitted from novels today and let us be honest what teenager doesn’t have a cell phone now? It helped teach us about her opinions on the matters of the world she lives in. She is a strong character with strong morals of what was right and wrong. She is the perfect example of use words not violence to solve problems. Bring awareness to the problem, and hopefully people will realize they were wrong and good will come out of it. Her blog also says: don't stay quiet when there is wrong in the world. Do something, every little bit counts.
Another part I liked about this novel was her mother is present most of the novel and doesn’t just let her get away with everything. That’s another pet peeve of mine when it comes to young adult, I really dislike when the main characters parents are missing from the novel. It’s a cop out on the author’s part and Rainfield did not fail here. Caitlyn’s mother was there, her family made her who she was, and helped guide her decisions.
Lastly, and this is a spoiler so I’m hiding it, but I really liked the ending of the book.
Spoiler
I liked that the end required a big moment. The Normals had no idea that Caitlyn saved their life, and they still were unsure about Paras, but when they saw in person someone brutalized and abused in public it sparked a rebellion.People witnessed the crime first hand, and were unable to look away, unable to ignore the harsh reality of the world they lived in. The pressure they put on the government when Caitlyn was being taken away was realistic. She had the mob on her side and therefore she lived.
The best part though is not that she gets free. It’s when they slap the tracker on her wrist, because you’re never free. NO matter how much the world changes, hate-- hate like Rainfield has built, never truly goes away, not immediately anyways. Acceptance and reform take time and until the government has new leaders, and new ideas Caitlyn escaped only temporarily but not forever and there will be more events that change this society. Whether for better or worst we don’t know.
Read it!
michalice's review
3.0
I got my copy of Hunted from Cheryl herself via twitter when she was looking for reviewers for the book. After reading a small sample on her web page I jumped at the chance to get a copy for review.
I will be the first to admit that I haven't heard of Cheryl before or even read on of her books so it was a nice surprise to discover that I really enjoyed reading Hunted.
Caitlyn is on the run with her Mum, finding safe places to stay for as long as it's safe to, while trying to avoid the Para Troopers, who are looking for them, but also the Para Reaper, who is killing other Paranormals. While hiding, Caitlyn is also looking for her brother Daniel. With the help of a fellow paranormal, John, Caitlyn and her Mum manage to avoid being caught and find a safe place to stay.
Trying to blend in as best as possible, Caitlyn enrols into the local school and that is when the fun begins. Meeting John, making friends, falling in love, saving normals lives and just barely keeping under the radar until the unthinkable happens and Caitlyn is discovered.
Now I am not going to tell you what happens, to find out you need to buy a copy. All I can say is I really enjoyed reading Hunted. There is just the right amount of action going on to keep you reading and I enjoyed the plot line of the book.
Things happen to Caitlyn that I didn't guess what would happen, but even the few things that I guessed correctly still shocked me, or made me happy when they happened.
I will be looking around for more books by Cheryl to see what else she has to offer.
I will be the first to admit that I haven't heard of Cheryl before or even read on of her books so it was a nice surprise to discover that I really enjoyed reading Hunted.
Caitlyn is on the run with her Mum, finding safe places to stay for as long as it's safe to, while trying to avoid the Para Troopers, who are looking for them, but also the Para Reaper, who is killing other Paranormals. While hiding, Caitlyn is also looking for her brother Daniel. With the help of a fellow paranormal, John, Caitlyn and her Mum manage to avoid being caught and find a safe place to stay.
Trying to blend in as best as possible, Caitlyn enrols into the local school and that is when the fun begins. Meeting John, making friends, falling in love, saving normals lives and just barely keeping under the radar until the unthinkable happens and Caitlyn is discovered.
Now I am not going to tell you what happens, to find out you need to buy a copy. All I can say is I really enjoyed reading Hunted. There is just the right amount of action going on to keep you reading and I enjoyed the plot line of the book.
Things happen to Caitlyn that I didn't guess what would happen, but even the few things that I guessed correctly still shocked me, or made me happy when they happened.
I will be looking around for more books by Cheryl to see what else she has to offer.
smashattackash's review
Read this review at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/12/hunted-intriguing-look-into-oppression.html
Smashtastic Synopsis: Meet Caitlyn, a Para on the run with her mother. Caitlyn lives in a world where being different gets you a life straight out of a Stephen King novel. Therefore, Caitlyn and her mother keep moving so that the government ParaTroopers do not learn of Caitlyn’s incredible telepathic abilities. When Caitlyn settles in a small town and falls for Alex, a Normal, things get heated. Caitlyn discovers a dangerous group of renegade Paranormals who are more closely connected than she could ever imagine. Faced with difficult decisions that will affect society as a whole, Caitlyn must choose between hiding in plain sight or standing up for humanity.
Interest in the book: Ever since reading Scars, I knew I would be a life-long fan of Cheryl Rainfield. I love her honesty and raw emotion, along with the simplicity and straightforwardness of her writing. I knew this book would be worth the time and was grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC.
Characters: Caitlyn is a pretty stellar character. The reader is granted a front row seat as she slowly evolves into someone who refuses to allow others to suffer, even if it costs her everything she has. Her telepathic abilities are strong, as she is able to alter people’s decisions by planting seeds of doubt in their minds. This is clearly against her morals but she uses her ability in the fight to stop the oppression of her people, but also to save Normals. Her decisions are never one-sided, and she struggles with the weight of these decisions. While constantly bombarded by hate and disgust for her kind, she refuses to let these messages sway her perspective. The story aligns Caitlyn in a very straight shot to the dark side, so to speak, yet she fights to remain pure and true to ALL of humanity. She is a true hero and I want to hug her.
Worldbuilding: As you learn about the dire situation the Paras face, you begin to realize how much this world parallels our own. Paras are hunted and imprisoned merely because Normals fear their abilities, which stems from ignorance. Ignorance is prevalent in our own society, which leads to racism, discrimination, oppression and a plethora of other issues that should have long ago been eradicated, seeing as how we have evolved as a race. While there are certainly renegade Paras who take matters into their own hands and relish in the idea of hurting those who oppress them, there is a strong theme that tolerance and more importantly, acceptance, is the best path.
Lasting Impressions: As the author always sets out to do in her writing, she has given us a world rich in meaning. So many real-world issues are brought to light in this book: government control, oppression, racism, homophobia, sexism, and the basic right to life, dignity, liberty and security. The author does a splendid job of weaving these themes into this story. And we all know how much I love a story that brings real-world issues to our attention. My only irk with this book was the romantic aspect, as it never felt real to me. However, I do understand the importance of the Para/Normal relationship in propelling Caitlyn into uncharted water, forcing her to fight to survive.
Smashtastic Entertainment Scale: Great fun and extremely meaningful
Smashtastic Synopsis: Meet Caitlyn, a Para on the run with her mother. Caitlyn lives in a world where being different gets you a life straight out of a Stephen King novel. Therefore, Caitlyn and her mother keep moving so that the government ParaTroopers do not learn of Caitlyn’s incredible telepathic abilities. When Caitlyn settles in a small town and falls for Alex, a Normal, things get heated. Caitlyn discovers a dangerous group of renegade Paranormals who are more closely connected than she could ever imagine. Faced with difficult decisions that will affect society as a whole, Caitlyn must choose between hiding in plain sight or standing up for humanity.
Interest in the book: Ever since reading Scars, I knew I would be a life-long fan of Cheryl Rainfield. I love her honesty and raw emotion, along with the simplicity and straightforwardness of her writing. I knew this book would be worth the time and was grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC.
Characters: Caitlyn is a pretty stellar character. The reader is granted a front row seat as she slowly evolves into someone who refuses to allow others to suffer, even if it costs her everything she has. Her telepathic abilities are strong, as she is able to alter people’s decisions by planting seeds of doubt in their minds. This is clearly against her morals but she uses her ability in the fight to stop the oppression of her people, but also to save Normals. Her decisions are never one-sided, and she struggles with the weight of these decisions. While constantly bombarded by hate and disgust for her kind, she refuses to let these messages sway her perspective. The story aligns Caitlyn in a very straight shot to the dark side, so to speak, yet she fights to remain pure and true to ALL of humanity. She is a true hero and I want to hug her.
Worldbuilding: As you learn about the dire situation the Paras face, you begin to realize how much this world parallels our own. Paras are hunted and imprisoned merely because Normals fear their abilities, which stems from ignorance. Ignorance is prevalent in our own society, which leads to racism, discrimination, oppression and a plethora of other issues that should have long ago been eradicated, seeing as how we have evolved as a race. While there are certainly renegade Paras who take matters into their own hands and relish in the idea of hurting those who oppress them, there is a strong theme that tolerance and more importantly, acceptance, is the best path.
Lasting Impressions: As the author always sets out to do in her writing, she has given us a world rich in meaning. So many real-world issues are brought to light in this book: government control, oppression, racism, homophobia, sexism, and the basic right to life, dignity, liberty and security. The author does a splendid job of weaving these themes into this story. And we all know how much I love a story that brings real-world issues to our attention. My only irk with this book was the romantic aspect, as it never felt real to me. However, I do understand the importance of the Para/Normal relationship in propelling Caitlyn into uncharted water, forcing her to fight to survive.
Smashtastic Entertainment Scale: Great fun and extremely meaningful
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Really great book! Loved everything about it, and it was heartbreaking what one human can do to another!
nmainardiauthor's review
4.0
3.5/5
Find more of my reviews on my blog, The Reader's Antidote
I'd been wanting to read this one for quite some time now, so when I signed up to be on the blog tour, I knew it'd be the perfect opportunity to do so. And I liked it more than I thought I would. If you've read my interview with the author, you'll know that she had an abusive past. And as much as she tells us that she tried to bring a lot of light to the book as well as the dark (which she definitely did), I couldn't help feeling that the happy and helping people stuff was forced. I actually didn't read the entire interview until after I'd read the book because I didn't want to get a different idea in my head. You could definitely feel the darkness of this novel, but worse things have happened in the YA genre.
Cait was almost sickeningly sweet, but she was also strong, especially after all the pain she'd endured from losing her father, giving up on a lost brother, and having a paranoid mother who was a paranormal as well as Caitlyn, but chose not to use her powers. This becomes a problem when someone from her past--someone she'd trusted--comes back into her new life, and Caitlyn is in way over her head. That's where the Normals come in, as in non-Para's, as in humans without supernatural powers. Caitlyn befriends Rachel, who's a lesbian. I always like seeing books where they address sexual orientation, especially in teenagers. It was a little awkward because Caitlyn could hear her thoughts about how Rachel was feeling about her. Not pleasant.
And then there was Alex. Rainfield touched pretty much every area of persecution out there with Hunted; Alex is black. I didn't really feel their relationship. Why are they so attracted to each other? I'm hoping it'll be addressed in the next one, like maybe he's partially Para or something. Still, I couldn't really invest myself in their relationship. I didn't understand why he liked her so much, or vice-versa, though I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the next book. One of the most developed characters was the mother. At first she just seems paranoid and mean and, as every teenager assumes, out to ruin Caitlyn's life. But she really cares about Caitlyn and is still just grieving. She has a few surprises.
This is definitely worth the read. It's another dystopian and I'm really glad got the opportunity to read and review it for the blog tour. Can't wait to see what happens next! :)
Find more of my reviews on my blog, The Reader's Antidote
I'd been wanting to read this one for quite some time now, so when I signed up to be on the blog tour, I knew it'd be the perfect opportunity to do so. And I liked it more than I thought I would. If you've read my interview with the author, you'll know that she had an abusive past. And as much as she tells us that she tried to bring a lot of light to the book as well as the dark (which she definitely did), I couldn't help feeling that the happy and helping people stuff was forced. I actually didn't read the entire interview until after I'd read the book because I didn't want to get a different idea in my head. You could definitely feel the darkness of this novel, but worse things have happened in the YA genre.
Cait was almost sickeningly sweet, but she was also strong, especially after all the pain she'd endured from losing her father, giving up on a lost brother, and having a paranoid mother who was a paranormal as well as Caitlyn, but chose not to use her powers. This becomes a problem when someone from her past--someone she'd trusted--comes back into her new life, and Caitlyn is in way over her head. That's where the Normals come in, as in non-Para's, as in humans without supernatural powers. Caitlyn befriends Rachel, who's a lesbian. I always like seeing books where they address sexual orientation, especially in teenagers. It was a little awkward because Caitlyn could hear her thoughts about how Rachel was feeling about her. Not pleasant.
And then there was Alex. Rainfield touched pretty much every area of persecution out there with Hunted; Alex is black. I didn't really feel their relationship. Why are they so attracted to each other? I'm hoping it'll be addressed in the next one, like maybe he's partially Para or something. Still, I couldn't really invest myself in their relationship. I didn't understand why he liked her so much, or vice-versa, though I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the next book. One of the most developed characters was the mother. At first she just seems paranoid and mean and, as every teenager assumes, out to ruin Caitlyn's life. But she really cares about Caitlyn and is still just grieving. She has a few surprises.
This is definitely worth the read. It's another dystopian and I'm really glad got the opportunity to read and review it for the blog tour. Can't wait to see what happens next! :)
claudiaswisher's review
5.0
Five stars because a day after I finished, I'm still thinking, still wondering...Cheryl (yes, I DO know her -- not just name-dropping) has created something new here...a book about the world when we've discovered that Paranormals live among us, able to communicate, to predict, to see what Normals can't. Paras are persecuted, hunted. They're captured and turned into slaves of the state, forced to hunt other Paras.
In this world, Caitlyn and her mother are on the run. Caitlyn's father was murdered for the crime of trying to speak reasonably, to keep the peace. She's never seen her brother Daniel since that horrible night.
Caitlyn enrolls in another new school, living in another new town...hoping for just a few months of peace before they're forced to run again.
The new school has more Para haters,but for the first time, a group of Para supporters...but things spiral out of control quickly as Daniel and his keepers enter the picture, trying to recruit Caitlyn, not to right the wrongs done to Paras, but to destroy the world of the Normals and any Paras who are not totally committed to total destruction.
Within this sci-fi setting, Cheryl makes us think about our own world...and our own intolerance of differences -- all differences. She sees the set-up as cultish behavior, mind-control...I see it even more sinisterly: This is the hatred that spews from fearful people right now -- this unwillingness to see beyond differences, to the humanity of our souls. It's so pervasive right now that this book is a cautionary tale, reminding us our own humanity is at stake.
And who among us isn't PARA-normal? Which of us isn't quirky, different, strange? Isn't that our beauty? Isn't that what makes us worthy of being cherished and respected?
Cheryl's Paras are tortured, as she herself has been. They suffer. Some of them have been warped beyond redemption, just as some of the Normals have. Can one young girl with extraordinary powers save us from ourselves?
This book does NOT fit neatly into a specific genre or category, and that's a strength...Caitlyn, her friends and her enemies will haunt you like they haunt me.
In this world, Caitlyn and her mother are on the run. Caitlyn's father was murdered for the crime of trying to speak reasonably, to keep the peace. She's never seen her brother Daniel since that horrible night.
Caitlyn enrolls in another new school, living in another new town...hoping for just a few months of peace before they're forced to run again.
The new school has more Para haters,but for the first time, a group of Para supporters...but things spiral out of control quickly as Daniel and his keepers enter the picture, trying to recruit Caitlyn, not to right the wrongs done to Paras, but to destroy the world of the Normals and any Paras who are not totally committed to total destruction.
Within this sci-fi setting, Cheryl makes us think about our own world...and our own intolerance of differences -- all differences. She sees the set-up as cultish behavior, mind-control...I see it even more sinisterly: This is the hatred that spews from fearful people right now -- this unwillingness to see beyond differences, to the humanity of our souls. It's so pervasive right now that this book is a cautionary tale, reminding us our own humanity is at stake.
And who among us isn't PARA-normal? Which of us isn't quirky, different, strange? Isn't that our beauty? Isn't that what makes us worthy of being cherished and respected?
Cheryl's Paras are tortured, as she herself has been. They suffer. Some of them have been warped beyond redemption, just as some of the Normals have. Can one young girl with extraordinary powers save us from ourselves?
This book does NOT fit neatly into a specific genre or category, and that's a strength...Caitlyn, her friends and her enemies will haunt you like they haunt me.