YA Book Pick: THE RULES by Stacey Kade

Once a month, we choose an outstanding YA book to review. We want to spotlight books of interest to aspiring writers, as well as highlight some of our favorite books and authors!

This month's Book Pick is THE RULES by Stacey Kade.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

First Line: "I have a dead girl's name."

What a first line.  It says a lot and raises significant questions.  First and foremost: Why does she have a dead girl's name? It's stated very matter of fact and gives us some insight into Ariane's character.  She's very logical and straight forward - exactly what you would expect from a human/alien hybrid.

Highlights: If you're looking for a full fledged sci-fi psychological thriller, this may be a bit of a light read but what it lacks in science, it makes up in character drama.  The story is written from the POV of both Ariane and Zane and while set in the future, offers a very contemporary feel.  But that doesn't mean it's not complete with a few twists and turns that will keep you engaged till the end. 

While THE RULES veers from true sci-fi, it offers new readers interested in the genre a chance to ease themselves into something that's more than just a present day young adult romance. 

A Good Read For: For those who enjoy light YA quick reads with a touch of sci-fi.  Also for those YA writers looking for examples of stories with multiple viewpoints and plot twists.  Check out Lauren's review of MIND GAMES by Kiersten White to move on up in the sci-fi psychological thriller world.