Tuesday, June 18, 2013

One by Leigh Ann Kopans ~ Tour Stop & Giveaway



Source:  Received ARC paperback from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.

It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.



My Thoughts:



3 stars - A sweet story with an aww at the end.

This is a sweet story.  Gonna start with the ending.  I saw it coming but I still felt the aww as I read the last page.  I like aww moments in books.

This book reminds me of the Maximum Ride series.  Mutations and lots of science filling the pages.  It also has a similar feel to it.  The best way I can describe it is to think about a teaching method.  It takes a few times to get something down and teachers get that.  They find ways to tell you, explain it, show you and then tell you again.  By the third or fourth time, you finally get it.  This book has that feel.  I don't mean this in a bad way.  I actually think it's a great style for a younger young adult reader.  The Maximum Ride series did the same thing.  Which makes this a very good book for the younger YA reader.

I liked Merrin.  I get her struggle with accepting who she is and being happy with herself.  It's a very real issue that young girls face daily.  She wants to be part of the "super" crowd but she only has one power making her less than a normal even.  If only she could be smart enough or work hard enough she could find a fix.  The lessons of growing up for most teens is to accept yourself for who you are.  I may have struggled a little with Merrin's personality, though.  I didn't like the less than truthfulness thing she had going yet she was so judgmental of Elias' similar issue.  In the end, I was very happy with the growth that Merrin made and enjoyed that awww that came out of my mouth on the last page.

I like Elias more.  He's not being 100% honest either but his feels more protective than Merrin's does.  Their relationship has the instant-love thing going but I didn't mind it so much.  Later in the story, there is information that comes out that kinda makes it make sense for me.  What I really liked about Elias was how he was with Merrin.  He loved his sisters and he worried about them but he treasured Merrin.  I liked that.

The story reads fast, especially the second half.   I read it in a couple of days and enjoyed.  Definitely a book my students would like.




About the author:

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)



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8 comments:

  1. Great review Val! I really liked this one. I thought the story was great, and I liked the romance. I am excited for the next book!

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  2. I knew you would like Elias!

    You nailed it on the Maximum Ride comparison. This does have a comparable feel to that series, but may be even better done with the science details.

    Great review, Pal!

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  3. Sounds fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing :)

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  4. I just loved ONE! Merrin is an awesome, tough MC and Elias is so sweet. I can't wait for the next book!

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  5. I've been wanting to read this one. It sounds great! :)

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  6. I've heard good things about this one. I can't wait to read it. Thanks!

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  7. Your review reminds me that I need to stop catching up on blog posts and get back to reading this book! :)

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  8. This wouldn't be for me, but it does sound interesting. I love the cover!

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