Underdogs

An omnibus edition of the Wolfe Brothers trilogy

by

Markus Zusak

Summary:

  

Cameron and Ruben Wolfe are champions at getting into fights, coming up with half-baked schemes, and generally disappointing girls, their parents, and their much more motivated older siblings. They're intensely loyal to each other, brothers at their best and at their very worst. But when Cameron falls head over heels for Ruben's girlfriend, the strength of their bond is tested to its breaking point.

 

 

 

 The Underdog

Wolfe Brothers, #1

 Read on July 11th, 2013.

My rating: 3.5 of 5

 

 My Thoughts on The Underdog:

 

 

The Underdog is Markus Zusak's debut novel, and the first book featuring Cameron & Ruben Wolfe. This book is told from Cameron's PoV, and in the end I liked it quite a lot! It started hilarious, they decide to rob the dentist (although as always when it comes to their silly schemes, they don't go through with it), and they made me laugh out loud through the book more than once. At the end of every chapter, Cam is describing one of his weird dreams, and I slowly grew fond of this, especially since in one of his dreams (and from there in some other chapters, too), I could see glimpses of the brilliant writer Markus Zusak would become. He does make some good points in this book, and the characters although full of flaws are likable enough. So, yeah, I liked a lot this YA contemporary novel!

 

  

 Fighting Ruben Wolfe

Wolfe Brothers, #2

 

Read on July 12th, 2013.

 

My rating: 3.5 of 5

My Thoughts on Fighting Ruben Wolfe:

  

 

Fighting Ruben Wolfe as the sequel to The Underdog is a little bit better than its predecessor & I could definitely see the improvement in Markus Zusak's writing, and he makes some amazing points in this book that I absolutely loved, and totally agree with them.

 

Once again we follow Cam & Rube's "adventures", they definitely made me laugh out loud again. So, they start to fight in illegal boxing matches every week, and Rube is the winner & girls start to notice him, and Cam once again falls for a girl that doesn't like him, and I loved how through it all, their family supports each other, and stands up for each other, and it sends a lovely message.

 

I think this is the book where they started to get under my skin, and I didn't even realised it at the time. Also, in this book, at the end of every chapter, Rube & Cam have this hilarious talks with each other before they fall asleep.

 

 

 

Getting the Girl

Wolfe Brothers, #3

 Read on July 13th, 2013.

 

 My rating: 5 of 5

 

 My Thoughts on Getting the Girl:

 

When I started reading Getting the Girl, I soon realised how much I've grown to like the Wolfe family, despite all of their flaws, as well as Miffy, and that Cameron Wolfe had carved himself this special place for himself in my heart. So, yeah, everything he feels & goes through in this book, I did, too. I couldn't help but hope that he will find some happiness. 

 

His brother Ruben changes his girlfriends every few weeks, so when he moves to another, Octavia (the girl Cam especially likes), seems to like him, too. So, yeah, it was so lovely & sweet to see Cam & Octavia interact, and I was so happy for him. Also, I got totally teary-eyed in this book more than once, poor Cam. But, he's definitely one pretty great character.  

 

Getting the Girl is definitely the best book in the trilogy, and I absolutely loved it! It was obvious that in this book Markus Zusak had started getting close to the level of brilliance he achieved in his following 2 books, and I could totally see where the brilliance of I Am the Messenger had started (a book even now I can't seem to write a review for, despite having it read twice). That especially comes through in the writing Cam starts to do himself at the end of each chapter, I absolutely loved it, it was lovely & brilliant!

 

So, yeah, I totally loved this book, and it made me fall in love with this trilogy & the characters! I'm definitely looking forward to reading it again! Also, once again Markus Zusak makes an excellent point in this book, that was so real, something that probably everyone has realised at some point in his life.

 

 

Challenges:

 

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge

Don't Let It End Reading Challenge

Inside

An omnibus edition of the Insiders duology

by

Maria V. Snyder

Summary:

  

 

FOUR WALLS.

FOUR LEVELS.

EIGHTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE.

NO ESCAPE - EVER.

 
The world of Inside is simple. Do your job, stay out of the way and don't dream of anything better. Because as every Scrub knows, there are no other options.

  

Until Trella - the Queen of the Pipes, as some call her - gets involved with a revolution that will rock her world…

 

 

 INSIDE OUT

 

Trella was just doing a favor for a friend - her only friend. Hiding an injured man from the Pop Cops seemed easy enough - though dangerous. But then she discovered that the myths of Outside might be real…

 

 

 OUTSIDE IN

 

Being Inside's hero only left Trella with more work. Ducking those responsibilities, she continued to explore her stark world - and found something she never expected. Strangers. From Outside…

 

 

  

 

Inside Out

Insiders, #1

 

Read from May 29th to May 30th, 2013.

  

My rating: 5 of 5

 

 My Thoughts on Inside Out:

 

 

From the moment I finally decided to start this book, I got wrapped up in the world of Inside, and couldn't stop reading it. I'm a big fan of sci-fi, and this book reminded me a little to some of my fav movies & episodes in tv series in sci-fi, although only a tiny bit, so yeah, it's a premise that it appeals to me.

Inside Out was a fast read, and the pacing of the story is quite fast, and I totally loved it! I loved Trella as a character, as well as Logan, Riley, Cog & Anne-Jade. I also loved learning about the Inside & how their world worked, and seeing how their rebellion developed. 

I have to admit that I was a little bit shocked when they finally opened you-know-what, I did not expect that, although after I was wondering how I didn't saw that one coming. It's rare when something escapes me & surprises me.

Anyway, Inside Out for me was a delightful read. There's something about Maria V. Snyder's writing that will get you hooked almost every time. Also, this book was really entertaining & fun, I was cheering on the characters, and it made me laugh out loud, and it was also sweet, and when I finished it, it left me with a smile. It's rare when a book does that to me, but this one did.

 

 So, yeah, when you're in a mood for something light & fun, this is the book for you, and I highly recommend it!

 

Outside In

Insiders, #2

Read from June 8th to July 3rd, 2013.

My rating: 5 of 5

 

My thoughts on Outside In:

Ok, I have to admit that even though I gave this book a rating of 5, it was a little bit biased. Why? Well, I had trouble getting into this book. I can't quite point out why, I just did. But, after a third of the book, when I finally got into the story, I was so wrapped up in it, that I loved every second of it, that in the end I had to give it this rating!

Once again the characters were fun & engaging. The level of suspense was definitely bigger, we get to learn a little bit more about the past of their world, and of course there's the threat that the Outsiders present to their well-being, so it's finally time to work with each other, not against each other.

Like the first book, Outside In left me feeling all happy inside & with a smile plastered on my face. I guess there must be some magic in Maria V. Snyder's words, or maybe it was just that I loved the characters in this duology.

I highly recommend this book, and this duology. It's really interesting & entertaining, definitely a fast-read, with delightful characters & engaging story, and the perfect ending that a series like this can get :)

 

 

Challenges:

 

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge

Don't Let It End Reading Challenge