UNINVITED by Sophie Jordan

The premise of this book was SO right on!  I couldn't say no, and I'm glad I didn't because it was a really great read.

In Sophie Jordan's Uninvited, scientists have discovered a gene that can predict whether a person will become a murderer.  This idea hooked me even though I've seen it before.  Minority Report, anyone?  I actually enjoyed MR.  But this YA was so much better, and I'll explain why.

Instead of a Tom Cruise-ish character, who's all secret agent-y and capable of kicking some major butt, our heroine is a high school senior.  Davy Hamilton has her whole life ahead of her.  She's a music prodigy who's been accepted to Julliard.  She's got friends, loving parents, and a hot boyfriend.

But all that changes the moment Davy finds out she has HTS (Homicidal Tendency Syndrome).

Her entire life falls apart--and we get to see it crumble.  This was one of my favorite things about the book.  I got to experience everything Davy experiences after finding out she carries the kill gene.  Her disbelief that quickly morphs into despair, her heartbreak when everyone she thought she could depend on turns against her.

Davy's parents basically pretend she doesn't exist.   Her boyfriend turns out to be a jerk (called that one wayyy before Zac showed his true colors ;)).  Her best friend betrays her in an awful way.  She's "uninvited" from her high-brow private school.  The only person who stands by her is her older brother Mitchell--who I absolutely adored!  Mitchell, the loser-problem-child-screw up, was such a great big brother and character.

Actually, there was one other person who stood by Davy, and I'd say he's possibly the #1 reason to read the book.

Sean O'Rourke.  Gahhh, what can I say about Sean?  He's another HTS carrier, but he looks the part: big, tough, amazingly HOT, tattooed with the circled-H that marks you for life as violent.  The scenes with him are charged.  Sexy, sweet, and completely captivating.  I hoped for a great romance to match the awesome plot, and Jordan didn't disappoint.  Sean was everything I look for in a book boyfriend and more :-D.

Another thing I loved was how Jordan kept Davy in her home environment.  She wasn't suddenly spirited away to a government facility or internment camp.  By keeping her in the same setting, we got to really see the "Before" and "After."  It was so much more emotionally affecting than if Davy had been taken somewhere else immediately after finding out she has HTS.

If you couldn't tell: I loved this book!!  I'd definitely recommend it.  With so many series out there--especially in YA--Uninvited is a definite Must-Read.

Happy Reading,

Ninja Girl