The Program by Suzanne Young

Source: Publisher
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.
Suzanne Young knows how to create a believable world with characters that you can't help, but loving and wanting more. I can see the dependence on prescription drugs, mandatory treatment, and the rush to premature conclusion from parents in the future. Actually many of these things are beginning to set into motion. I really like Sloane. She was smart, brave, and strong. I liked that she was able to take risk and I have felt a lot of the sadness and silence that she expressed.  I understood her and related to her. I really liked James too. He cared about her, but also had his own flaws. I really enjoyed their relationship and kept on want more about them. 
The Program was the perfect blend of action and romance. It was a book that ignited me with so many emotions and filled me with so many thoughts.  I had to continue reading this book and I wanted more when it is over. The Program was a original take on a very serious issue in society that comments on some of the issues within the treatment of people dealing with depression or other mental illness. Young's writing is fabulous. The story is engaging and I just wanted and needed more. I am definitely excited for the sequel and can't wait to see what Young writes next. I recommend this to fans of Dystopian Novels or people that want strong characters, thrilling and epic plots, and just amazingly beautiful and emotional writing that impacts you with every word. 

Waiting on Wednesday (119

Title: Just Like Fate
Author: Suzanne Young & Cat Patrick
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Just Like Fate follows the dual possible narratives that spring from one girl's fateful choice: to stay by her dying grandmother's bedside, or to go to a party and miss her grandmother's last moments.
I love both of these authors, so I really want to read this one. I am excited.

Waiting on Wednesday (116)

Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 30, 2013
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.
This book sounds so amazing and I just really want to read it. Suzanne Young is always brilliant and I don't think that The Program will be any different.

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Source: Publisher
We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

I love this book. It was so amazing and emotionally taxing that I had a hard time not crying the whole second half of the book. I also find the whole purpose of the Forgotten to be amazing and beautiful. At the same time, I find it realistic, because their are definitely people that have touched my life with so much light and yet I can hardly remember their names, let alone their faces or voices. I loved that Young balanced that by showing a dark and negative alternative for what Charlotte could do and I found that to be horrifying.

Charlotte is an amazing character. She has so much courage and spirit even as she is about to face such a horrid and unimaginable fate. Harlin is such an amazing guy. He trust Charlotte so much and I loved that she tried so hard to keep him. Her best friend Sarah was awesome and I really liked her. I found Mercy to be amazing, because she adopted Charlotte and will never know all the amazing things that Charlotte was doing. There are not enough words for how sorry I felt for Monroe. He has the hardest time is the book, because he will always remember Charlotte and no one else will. I can't even imagine having to deal with that and not being able to talk about it. The setting of Portland is so rich that it seems to be it's own character and it made me miss that city so much.

A Need So Beautiful is one of those books that you want for it to go on forever, because it is so magical and captivating that every single word matters. Young's writing is gorgeous and emotional. It captures A Need so Beautiful so well that I wanted more and I can't wait for A Want so Wicked to come out, especially after the ending. I recommend that you read this book now. It is clever, original, and so amazing and I have no clue how you could possibly hate this book.

Waiting on Wednesday (78)

Title: A Need So Beautiful
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Harperteen
Date: June 21, 2011
In which a 17-year-old discovers that by performing the good deeds that her body compels her to, she will disappear into the light and be Forgotten, but by fighting “the Need,” her fate could be even more dire.
I love the cover so much and the concept just sounds so amazing. Suzanne Young is possibly the sweetest person that I have ever met and The Naughty List was a fabulous book. I am so excited for this book!

Happy Birthday, Erica!

A Happy Birthday vlog from me:

Then in Portland, Zoe and I kidnapped Suzanne Young for this Vlog:

As you can tell, a lot of people are wishing Erica a Happy Birthday! So have an amazing day Erica.

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Rating:

Characters: 18/20

Plot: 19/20

Originality: 19/20

Writing: 19/20

Recommendation: 20/20

Overall: 95/100 or A

Source: Publisher

After the last cheerleader captain is publicly humiliated, when she finds out that her boyfriend has an "other women". Tessa Crimson takes over the cheerleading squad and starts Society of Smitten Kittens. At the request of girls who suspect that their boyfriends of cheating, SOS will launch a full-scale investigations. If SOS finds any evidence, they will provide it to their clients. So far all of the boys have been guilty. Tessa's boyfriend Aiden is troubled by her frequent absences and the secrecy that comes with SOS. Things become a bit more complicated by the arrival of Christian Ferril and his sister Chloe. Christian is interested in Tessa and Chloe has her eye on Aiden. Then Aiden's name shows up on the list. She starts using her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as the rest of them?

I found this book to be extremely cute. Tessa and her friends are like able. They were really sweet and original. Their voices brought depth and realism to the cheerleader stereotype. I love secret societies and SOS was ran awesomely well. The reports were through anonymous cell phone and top-secret correspondence. The SOS then receives cheater reports and goes on missions. I found the way that SOS was ran to be clever and plausible for a teenager. I would love to be in a Secret Society like that and it helped me get engaged further into the plot. I also loved the fun alternative cuss words that Tess came up with. This book was so original and I fell in love with it. Young is a fantastic writer that created a clever and unique story. I highly recommend this book, you should buy a copy right now. I can't wait for the sequel So Many Boys. I bet it will be just as amazing.

Interview with Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young is an author, wife and mother of two. Originally from Utica, NY, Suzanne moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. After nearly eight years in the desert, she and her family moved to Oregon where she continues to live a completely random life. Suzanne writes novels for teens and earned a BA in Creative Writing before becoming a middle school Language Arts teacher. She is the Author of The Naughty List, which comes out February 4th, 2010. You should preorder it today, it is so cute.

1. Have you ever considered spying on boys like Tessa does, as a teen?
No, I don’t think I went that far…. at least not that I’d be willing to admit here. haha But I think a lot of us were guilty of hang ups and lighter stuff like that.

2. How many books are planned in The Naughty List series, so far?
Three right now. The next book is due out in the summer of 2010 and it’s called SO MANY BOYS…

3. In The Naughty List, Tessa doesn't swear, but uses the cutest phrases ever using food. Where did you come up with these?
Honestly, I have NO IDEA! Haha. I was writing in Tessa’s voice when all of the sudden she said her and boyfriend were so strawberry smoothie… after that. I was hooked on all of her quirky phrases.

4. What is your favorite and least thing about writing?
I love writing new stuff. I’m totally addicted to it. Probably the hardest part for me is the patience needed. I think a lot of people would be amazed at the lag time between a manuscript being bought to when it’s on the shelves. If it were in Suzanne-time, it’d be about a week. Lol. But for me, it was more like a year and a half.

5. What is it like being a tenner? Does it come with secret powers?
If it did, I think my secret power would be blogging. I do it like it’s my job. Haha. Being a Tenner is fantastic. I get to meet and hang out with an awesome group of writers. It’s like our own Secret Society… only without the wall scaling.

6. Other then writing and reading, what do you like to do?
I love to go camping. I’ll hook you all up with some toasted marshmallows. But beware, I like mine totally burnt.

7. Is there anything that you would like to add?
Just that I have been overwhelmed at how positive all the bloggers have been! It was like I was allowed into the coolest online club! So I thank you and all of the other bloggers out there.

The reason that I am posting my interviews, so close together is that next week is my Blogoversary is next week and I have a few post pre-planned.