Review - Surrender (Possession #2) by Elana Johnson (+Giveaway)

Surrender (Possession #2) by Elana Johnson
June 5th, 2012 from Simon Pulse

Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque....

Move over Vi and Jag, here comes Raine and Gunner. Same world, same problems, and the Resistance is staying strong. Raine's father is the head honcho of Freedom and Raine and Gunner are oh so valuable to him. Both kids juggle their abilities, their secret role in the Resistance, and their controlled role in a not-so-perfect society. Johnson is a pro at character building and you will fall in love with Raine and Gunner in the same way you love Vi and Jag. Raine is such a strong and resilient girl. She defies her father at every turn and believes that she can have a life outside of the suffocating walls of Freedom. Gunner isn't so sure about...well anything, but he knows he doesn't want to be under the control of anyone. His special abilities, yes that is with an "s", are highly valuable, and Raine, and others, are happy he is part of the Resistance. It only took him a year to be talked into it. The two begin to have googlie eyes for each other and that doesn't sit well with anyone - Raine's father and the both of their matches.

Possession - Interview With Author Elana Johnson

*photo courtesy Shooting Stars

Today, I have a fun This or That interview with POSSESSION author, Elana Johnson. If you haven't read my review, go HERE. You have read a lot of great things about the book, and I feel the same way!

Here we go:

1. Book or e-reader? Book

2. Dogs or cats? Oh, neither. So not an animal person.

3. Disney World or Disneyland? Disneyland

4. Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn? Huck Finn

5. Survivor or The Amazing Race? Both! I love reality TV, and watch both of these religiously.

6. Facebook or Twitter? Twitter, so much faster.

7. Sweet or savory? Savory, can you say bacon?

8. Paula Deen or Rachael Ray? Paula Deen

9. David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar? Is it bad that I had to Google these? Probably. Let’s go with the original, Sammy Hagar.

*Yes, it is bad... ;)

10. Snow skiing or water skiing? Snow skiing (no swimsuit = no contest)

11. iPhone or Blackberry? iPhone

12. John Stewart or Steve Colbert? Google to the rescue! How lame am I? Wait, don’t answer that. Uh…Steve Colbert.

*Oh....my.

13. Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles?? Again, thank you Google. Breakfast Club.

*Now I am speechless.

14. Slopes or beach? Beach

15. West Coast or East Coast? West Coast, but this is the impossible choice, for the record.

Thank you Elana for the laughs! I so should have asked you some harder questions! ;)

Add to Goodreads
You can find Elana on her website, blog, and on Twitter.
Thank you, Teen Book Scene for letting me a part of the tour.

Regal Literary is giving away 10 SIGNED, hardcover copies of Possession, you can enter HERE. Giveaway ends 6/30.

Review - Possession by Elana Johnson

Possession by Elana Johnson
June 7th, 2011 from Simon & Schuster

Synopsis:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Review:
This book was a breeze to get through. We aren't burdened with futuristic terms and crazy advances in technology that I don't even pretend to understand (or pronounce). Yes, this is the future, but we aren't slapped in the face with it. Possession is the right of mix of dystopian, science fiction, romance, and good ole fashion mystery. Vi, Violet, is a girl that doesn't exactly do as she is told. Her world is supposed to be controlled, but she constantly breaks the rules (doesn't wear a hat indoors) and when she is caught walking in the park at night...with a boy...she is apprehended. Shame, shame, Vi you naughty girl! When Vi is put in a cell with another notorious rule breaker named Jag - a hot one at that- she finds herself in the middle of something I will call....a War of the Minds.

There are a lot of twists and turn in this book and not everything is predictable. The boy she was caught walking in the park with, Zenn - her match, isn't exactly who he says he is. Throw in boy number two, Jaq, someone who has secrets all of his own, and you get a royally confused girl left with two boys and two choices. The romance is there and it is the right amount to keep the girls swooning. The boys will stay tuned for the adventure and mind control. The mystery of who is who they really say they are, and the adventure that comes from running away from something that will eventually catch up to you, are all highlights of this book.

Possession is another great dystopian to add to your reading pile. I'm sure the stack is high due to the current trend (there is a trend, right?), but this should be a part of them. Like a lot of other great titles in this genre, this book is all about control. Who is controlling your thoughts and behavior? Do you have free will or is that an illusion? Vi struggles with these ideas throughout the whole story.  I can see this story being a part of school curriculum because it appeals to both boys and girls, and the book asks some pretty heavy questions in a simple way. I think the topic of control and free will is a topic that every young person should discuss at one point or another. This book can serve as a great tool for sparking those discussions.

4 Stars

Add to Goodreads
You can find Elana on her website, blog, and on Twitter.
Thank you, Teen Book Scene for letting me a part of the tour.

Regal Literary is giving away 10 SIGNED, hardcover copies of Possession, you can enter HERE. Giveaway ends 6/30.