Unraveling
By Elizabeth Norris
Release Date: 04/24/12
Hardcover/e-book
464 pages
Book Description from Amazon:
Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.
But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.
From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.
***
As soon as I saw the cover for Unraveling I knew I had to have it! The book description sounded so different than most other books at the time with the sci-fi storyline. I was anxiously waiting for the release of this book and it definitely did not disappoint!
Unraveling tells the story of Janelle Tanner, who is probably one of my favorite female characters! Janelle isn’t your typical girl and she doesn’t have the perfect life or family. Her father is an FBI agent who spends too much time on cases and her mother is bipolar and is at times barely functional, which has left Janelle with the burden and responsibility of taking care of her family including her younger brother. She also lost one of her ex best friends when she slipped something in her drink at a party a couple years ago and she woke up in a car with her pants down and her underwear ripped. To this day, Janelle still doesn't know what happened to her at that party. But, even though her family has issues, she has a pretty good support system. She has her dad who is a really good parent who just happens to lose himself in his work, she has her younger brother, her best friend Alex and her dad's partner an long-time family friend-Struz. (I LOVED Struz!)
When a truck comes barreling out of nowhere and hits her, Janelle knows that she died. But she also knows that Ben-who she has known for a long time and always considered a stoner kid-did something to her and somehow brought her back to life. Nobody believes that Janelle died, but she knows better. So she goes looking for answers to the only person who can give them to her, Ben. At first he denies it, but Janelle is persistent and doesn't give up. Ben and Janelle start spending more time together, but she tries to figure out exactly what he is. When she finally finds out, she discovers that he is somehow connected to a top secret case her father and Struz are working on, which seems to be the countdown to the end of the world. Janelle, Ben, Alex and Ben's friends try to figure out how to stop it, but how many people will get hurt before they figure out that this problem is so much bigger than any of them thought?
Unraveling is an intense and emotional, non-stop action story that will surprise you and break your heart at the same time. Janelle and Ben's relationship is a nice and slow build up with a cliffhanger that I never saw coming! Janelle's relationship with her mom, dad, brother, Alex, Struz and Ben was so heartbreakingly sweet. I LOVED the countdown at the beginning of each chapter which added to end-of-the-world race against time theme. Unraveling is a fantastic, fast-paced sci-fi story with plenty of romance, action, suspense and mystery with plenty of turns to keep you on the edge of your seat! I seriously hope that there is a sequel to Unraveling because I'm dying to know what happens next. Unraveling is an amazing story you will not want to miss!
Unraveling tells the story of Janelle Tanner, who is probably one of my favorite female characters! Janelle isn’t your typical girl and she doesn’t have the perfect life or family. Her father is an FBI agent who spends too much time on cases and her mother is bipolar and is at times barely functional, which has left Janelle with the burden and responsibility of taking care of her family including her younger brother. She also lost one of her ex best friends when she slipped something in her drink at a party a couple years ago and she woke up in a car with her pants down and her underwear ripped. To this day, Janelle still doesn't know what happened to her at that party. But, even though her family has issues, she has a pretty good support system. She has her dad who is a really good parent who just happens to lose himself in his work, she has her younger brother, her best friend Alex and her dad's partner an long-time family friend-Struz. (I LOVED Struz!)
When a truck comes barreling out of nowhere and hits her, Janelle knows that she died. But she also knows that Ben-who she has known for a long time and always considered a stoner kid-did something to her and somehow brought her back to life. Nobody believes that Janelle died, but she knows better. So she goes looking for answers to the only person who can give them to her, Ben. At first he denies it, but Janelle is persistent and doesn't give up. Ben and Janelle start spending more time together, but she tries to figure out exactly what he is. When she finally finds out, she discovers that he is somehow connected to a top secret case her father and Struz are working on, which seems to be the countdown to the end of the world. Janelle, Ben, Alex and Ben's friends try to figure out how to stop it, but how many people will get hurt before they figure out that this problem is so much bigger than any of them thought?
Unraveling is an intense and emotional, non-stop action story that will surprise you and break your heart at the same time. Janelle and Ben's relationship is a nice and slow build up with a cliffhanger that I never saw coming! Janelle's relationship with her mom, dad, brother, Alex, Struz and Ben was so heartbreakingly sweet. I LOVED the countdown at the beginning of each chapter which added to end-of-the-world race against time theme. Unraveling is a fantastic, fast-paced sci-fi story with plenty of romance, action, suspense and mystery with plenty of turns to keep you on the edge of your seat! I seriously hope that there is a sequel to Unraveling because I'm dying to know what happens next. Unraveling is an amazing story you will not want to miss!
4.5 out of 5 sparkly stars!
Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Unraveling:
-"If the universe was going to give you superhero powers, they could have at least given you the ability to fly or something," I add, because apparently I don't know when I'm taking things too far.
He shakes his head, and his voice comes out barely above a whisper. "I'm not a superhero."
But he saved me.
-Lives are made of strings of moments, and every once in a while, one of those moments is pivotal and defining. It changes everything, alters you so completely that when you look back, there's a clear before and after.
-We sit next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, the sun setting in front of us, eating my favorite food in the world, and I just know-this is why I have a second chance. This is why I back from the dead-so I could really feel alive.
-I put my hands on the side of his face, and I turn him so we're nose to nose, our foreheads touching. We're both breathing heavily, and I wonder what he's thinking. If his heart is beating so fast it's ready to explode out of his skin. If he's glad that truck came barreling through ...and hit me because it brought us together. If he realizes the smell of mint, soap, and gasoline now drives me crazy-in the best possible way.
-I'm finally broken-more broken than I was days ago when my body lay dead on the side of the road by Torrey Pines Beach.
Broken. There's no other way to describe it. My insides are cracking apart, imploding. Nothing can give me life again-nothing can make me whole. Not even Ben.
This is Just Too Much.
***Author Interview***
1. After leaving us with that heck of a cliffhanger, please tell us that there will be a sequel to Unraveling?
There will!
2. Is there anything you can share with us about the sequel? Name, release date, teaser quote or blurb?
The sequel, titled UNBREAKABLE, will be out next year in April 2013. It takes place four months after the end of Unraveling and readers will get to see a lot more of Janelle, Ben, Barclay, Elijah, and Cecily.
3. Janelle was such an awesome character! LOVED her! What would you say is her best quality? What about her worst quality?
One of the things I love most about her is that she's smart, tough, and independent. But I think because of all three of those things, she makes mistakes sometimes. She puts a lot on herself and sometimes she should just ask for help.
4. What is your favorite non-spoiler quote or scene in Unraveling?
My favorite scene is about three quarters into the book and in the middle of a rainy night, and Janelle and Ben are in a laundry room.
5. E-book novellas are getting pretty popular right now and are a great way to keep fans happy in between books. Do you have any plans of writing any Unraveling related novellas?
I actually do have plans for that. They're not finalized yet, but I have three short stories I'm working on from Ben's point of view. They take place before, during, and after Unraveling.
6. I LOVE your pink hair! Do you ever wear any other hair colors besides pink?
I had always wanted pink hair! Unfortunately it's not pink right now :( It's back to my normal auburn/brown color. I really want to do something crazy like purple highlights soon.
7. What is your dream cast for your book?
I love Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit and I think she'd be the perfect Janelle. Ben is a little tougher. All the actors I think of for him are actually too old. I imagined him as James Franco from his freaks and geeks days or as the cover model from the book (he's perfect).
8. Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
"We are Broken" by Paramore is definitely an awesome theme song for the book.
9. Describe your book in 10 words or less…
UNRAVELING is...
Janelle's fight to unravel Ben Michaels and save the world.
***GIVEAWAY***
Elizabeth Norris was awesome enough to offer to give away a signed hardcover copy of Unraveling to one lucky winner. Open internationally! Enter below and please note that I will be checking entries before contacting winner.
About the Author
Elizabeth Norris briefly taught high school English and history before trading the southern California beaches and sunshine for Manhattan's recent snowpocalyptic winter.
She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together.
Her first novel, UNRAVELING (Balzer+Bray, April 2012), is the story of one girl’s fight to save her family, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.
She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together.
Her first novel, UNRAVELING (Balzer+Bray, April 2012), is the story of one girl’s fight to save her family, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.
Read more of my reviews and author interviews at:
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed
Here is a list of my Author Interviews so far this month:
Omg I love the pink hair!! SO cool! I really have to read this one soon I think I will love it it sounds intense and adrenaline filled which is MY kind of book!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review and interview, Nereyda! I'm so jealous. I've been wanting to read this since I first saw that cover ;) Can't wait now!
ReplyDeleteI want to read this book so bad!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome review and Interview. I loved Unravelling and I'm so glad there's a sequel. But you say we will see Janelle, Ben, Barclay, Elijah, and Cecily in the next book, but what about Struz, I love him too :) I can't wait to read the novella's from Ben's POV, awesome.....And I also really liked the laundry room scene. Eeek I am so excited for the next book
ReplyDeleteGreat review and interview! I've seen this book and have been wondering about it. I'll have to read it now!
ReplyDeleteKnowing the author does crazy things with her hair makes me want to read the book so much more! I've had all kinds of different colors in my hair before like Purple, Pink, Blonde, Blue, and Green yes green lol =)
ReplyDelete~Paige @ Comfort Books
http;//paigebradish1996.blogspot.com/
Very good review and interview. Interesting to read. Glad to hear that Unraveling is just as good as I keep hearing it is! And like the other commentors said, loveee the crazy stuff the author does with her hair! The pink looks fabulous.
ReplyDelete