Waiting On Wednesday (69): Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Please Remain Calm (This Is Not a Test #2)

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: January 20th, 2015

In this gripping sequel to THIS IS NOT A TEST, Rhys and Sloane are headed for a safe haven when they get separated along the way. Rhys is determined to reunite with Sloane until he discovers people who might need him more--people who offer him the closest he'll get to everything he's lost, if they can just hold on long enough.

Rhys thinks he has what it takes to survive and find the girl he lost, but in a world overrun by the dead, there are no guarantees and the next leg of his journey will test him in unimaginable ways... (Summary from Goodreads)

OH GOD, GUYS. I AM NOT READY. I AM NOT CALM. My bestie and I have been talking/theorizing/fan-girling/preemptively crying over this novella since it was announced. This is Not a Test is quite possibly my favourite book of all time, and I'm both so excited and so so scared to read Please Remain Calm. Courtney Summers does not pull any punches. She doesn't give you the ending you want, but one that is right for the story. And, let's be real, those endings can HURT. And this is a ZOMBIE BOOK. Nothing happy ever happens in a zombie book. So, I have reasons to be scared. But, I also know that this story will be incredible and gut-wrenching and powerful and just so dang good. It is a Courtney Summers book after all. I cannot wait to revisit these beautifully broken and fascinating characters once again. 

I know I've said this repeatedly, but I can't express it enough. You need to read Courtney Summers' books. They are some of the best out there in YA and absolutely impacting. Get yourself to a book store and grab a copy, or head to your bookshelf and put them at the top of your TBR. And then come join me and the bestie as we anxiously await one of our most anticipated books of the year.

Check out my review of This is Not a Test here!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

This Is Not a Test (Pages 158 - the end): Discussion Post

Hey, all!

Here is the third and final discussion post for THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers for the Read-Along! Read on and tell me your thoughts on the novel!

You still have a couple more hours left to enter to win a set of Courtney Summers books! Good luck!

***WARNING: Spoilers for THIS IS NOT A TEST***

Since this is the final discussion post of the Read-Along (*tear*), I decided to do this a bit differently. Normally, I go through the section and talk about the major plot points and ask you guys questions. I'll do a bit of that, but I kind of wanted to talk about why I love this book.

When I was interviewed for my job at Chapters, I was asked what my favourite book was. This Is Not a Test, I told them. I talked about the writing. The characters. How it was more than a 'zombie book'. I think I could've gone on for hours if they asked me too. I still could. There are just so many things that are amazing about this book. It's about the end of the world. It's about how your past grips you and doesn't let go. It's about kids growing up while the world is falling down. It's about learning to find something to live for.

Something that makes the book brilliant is Courtney's writing itself. The way her words seep into your head. The way they make you jump at every little sound, or clutch the book with fear. The words become so vivid that it's difficult to separate yourself from them. In Harrison's death scene, I felt physically ill. I could picture his ragged face so clearly. Could feel Cary's agony from his decision. I felt worn out, ripped apart and, in the end, put back together again. In the final scene, Sloane is back where she started and she says one of the most striking lines of the whole book is in this seen. "She won't recognize me when she sees me. I look like someone who has survived" It's startling. It's gut-wrenchig. But it's oddly hopeful. Because she did survive. Not just the apocalypse but the demons in her previous life.

Every character in this book is so realistic. So believable. They piss you off and break your heart and make you want to live for them. Grace with her kind heart and her secrets. Harrison with his fear and, in the end, his bravery. Cary with his self-hatred and strength. Rhys with his terrible burden and his fierce will to live. And Sloane. Sloane with her hopelessness, and her courage, and her fight, and her broken soul. I talked about my struggle with depression last month, but when I wrote my original review of This Is Not a Test, I wasn't ready to talk about it. I never mentioned why I loved Sloane so much, not really. I loved her for so many reasons but one of them being I could identify with her hopelessness. I had been there before. I could remember waking up everyday and wondering what was the point in moving. In living at all. It broke my heart reading about Sloane because I just wanted her to realize that she was more than what other people broke her down to be. And in the end when she finally decided to live, I felt so incredibly happy for her. She went through hell and back but she made it. This was a novel about surviving a zombie apocalypse but, it was also a novel about a young woman moving forward. And about her learning that she is something to live for.

I feel like I could talk about this book forever but really it boils down to one thing: this book is amazing. It's thoughtful and broken and everything I want in a novel. It made me think about what being alive means. I want to give this book to everyone I met because I think it's so important. There's something in this book for everyone. I hope you found your something in this book. I really did.

So, I'm opening the floor to you guys. Did you read This Is Not a Test? What did you think about? Did you find your something to hold on to?

Tomorrow, I say farewell to the Courtney Summers Read-Along.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

This Is Not a Test (Pages 85 - 157): Discussion Post

 
Hey guys!

Here is the second discussion post for THIS IS NOT A TEST for the Courtney Summers Read-Along! I'm going to be having a big double final discussion post, hopefully going up tomorrow. Monday will be the wrap-up post and that's it! We're in the home stretch all!

If you haven't already, be sure to ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a set of Courtney Summers books!

***WARNING: Spoilers for pages 1 - 157 of THIS IS NOT A TEST****

Oh boy, guys. This section was a crazy one. It starts off with Trace announcing that his father is still alive and outside the school. It seems to good to be true, but with such little hope in their world, you can tell Trace is desperate to believe it. Sloane volunteers to go out and investigate, which gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach. I didn't really think she would die (there are another 200 plus pages to go! Although I wouldn't put it past Courtney to have her turn into a zombie and have zombie Sloane narrate the rest of the book) but I was really worried about the outcome. Because she was planning to die. This was her opportunity to die with honor. Until dear Rhys steps in, throwing a major wrench into that plan. And now the stakes are even higher. As I was reading this, I was so completely engrossed. The eerie silence outside, the panic when the gate clangs, and the apprehension when approaching the man had me completely on edge. Were you guys as nervous as I was?

It's not Mr. Casper. Sloane tries to get Rhys to go back so she can escape. And then, all hell breaks lose. This is one of the only instances of zombies in the book and it is effing scary. It's frantic, and horrid and made worse by the fact that Sloane gives up. In these kind of situations, we're used to the heroine scrambling for escape. Fighting tooth and nail to live. But Sloane fights to save Rhys, and gives up on herself. When the zombie is about to kill her she says "This is it. Finally." Even in the face of a horrific death, she still longs for an end. Thankfully, Rhys is there to prevent that. And to get her to safety, even if she doesn't seem to want it. What did you guys think about Sloane's reaction?

Another big thing in this scene is Sloane decision to sacrifice not-Mr. Casper for the sake of Rhys life. It's a split-second decision, but one with horrible consequences. And a decision that was made before, by a different person. A drunken night leads to a confession from Cary that he did know the alley was swarmed but he let them go in anyways. That it was supposed to be Harrison who died. Reading this scene, you can see how much agony this decision cost him. He may have saved the lives of five other people, but two people died in the process. It's tragic. It's a tough, heart-breaking scene to read. But I think it's so good. Because it's realistic. I mean, there hasn't been a zombie apocalypse so it's hard to say what's "realistic" or not, but I think this scene is. These kids are facing life and death choices everyday, and there really is no right way to choose. And each choice eats away at them. I like that Courtney Summers doesn't shy away from such a gut-wrenching scene. Although I love Cary, so seeing him so upset was pretty hard. What did you guys think?

Last thing I'm going to touch on is the creepy "is there a ghost/Sloane's dad" in the school thing. At the beginning, it seems like maybe Sloane is just imagining things after her near-death experience. But, it soon becomes obvious she's not. Someone is in the school. And that someone turns out to be Mr. Baxter, their English teacher. He's not doing so well, and suspicions start to fly about him. He doesn't remember how he got in, and this lack of memory could cost all of them their lives. Rhys and Cary think he's lying, and Sloane doesn't know what to believe. They got to find where he got in though, and fast. Do you guys think Mr. Baxter is lying? Or are these characters starting to let paranoia get the better of them? 

Either way, there's a lot of book left and a LOT more craziness to happen. Get ready to have your heart ripped to shreds, lovely read-alongers.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)   

This Is Not a Test (Pages: 1 - 84): Discussion Post

Hi guys!

It's coming to you late (once again, sorry!) but here is the first discussion post for THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers!

****WARNING: Spoilers for pages 1 - 84 of THIS IS NOT A TEST****

Oh man, guys. It took me a lot of effort to put down this book. I may have read it before, but THIS IS NOT A TEST just gets right into my heart and doesn't let go.  I feel so completely invested in the characters in this book that it's hard to walk away. They're just so real to me, and really make this story phenomenal.

THIS IS NOT A TEST starts off with a suicide note. A horrible, heartbreaking note carried through the first chapter that rips you apart with each new line. As does Sloane, the writer for said note and the victim of abuse. It doesn't take long for you to see the effects suffered by Sloane and her grief over her sister's abandonment. It also doesn't take long until the zombies come busting down her door. We get just enough of both in this short first chapter. Enough to understand Sloane and enough to set the terrifying atmosphere. How did you guys like the beginning?

I think one of the most interesting things about THIS IS NOT A TEST is that it goes against many conventions of a zombie novel while still retaining the inherent spookiness. A staple in zombie books is a narrator that is desperate to survive. In this case, Sloane doesn't care if she lives or dies. Before the apocalypse even happens, she had decided to end her life and once it does, it just makes her more resigned. She's a different characters from what we're used to seeing, and one that breaks your heart. What did you guys think of Sloane?

Now, we get to meet our cast of characters. Cary, the survivor and unintentional leader. Trace and Grace, twins, one angry and one gentle. Harrison, the youngest and most scared. And Rhys, mysterious yet caring. The thing about them, though, is that they don't have a "set role." They're people. They evolve throughout the story so that even their most basic roles don't fit them. And I love that because it makes them real. How do you like the characters so far?

All the characters are suffering from heartbreak and loss, most recently the loss of Trace & Grace's parents. And Cary's possible role in their deaths. Trace blames him, and Grace a bit too. They're both grieving and don't know how to handle it. I feel so awful for Cary though who has to endure this onslaught of anger over and over. He's just a kid. They're all just kids. Kids in a world where you can't be anymore. We see each of them handle their fear and loss a different way in these first few chapters. And we see Sloane still not find any reason to keep going. 

I distinctly remember the first time I read THIS IS NOT A TEST. I had been absorbed all day with this book, and ended up reading well into the night. Every time a I would read a thump in the book I would look up and check the door because it was so real. I honestly could hear the thumping in my mind and was getting more and more petrified as the story went on. And, the thing is, I can count on one hand the times we see a zombie in the book. Courtney Summers just creates such a vivid atmosphere that we don't even need to see the monsters to be afraid of them. There's a thumping that begins in this first section that becomes the backtrack of this story. There is that constant fear of the death waiting just outside their door. Did you guys feel as scared as I did (as I still do reading it a second time)?

What did you guys think of the beginning of THIS IS NOT A TEST? Let me know in the comments!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Courtney Summers Read-Along: Month Four: THIS IS NOT A TEST (+ Update!)

Hello, awesome people!

I can't even believe it. We're in the home stretch! Today marks the start of the LAST MONTH of the Courtney Summers Read-Along! *tear* I'm really sad that we've come to the end but I've had such an amazing time hosting this event. I hope you guys have enjoyed it too!

To give you guys a bit of an update: I have been absolutely swamped with school the last little while. I have an exam tonight, had two yesterday, and two essays I handed in on the 3rd. All my time has been devoted to trying not to fail, which means that the Read-Along has been put aside. Fear not though! After today, I actually have breaks between my exams (thank goodness) so I will be using it to catch up. SO here's a mini revised schedule!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 8th: Final Fall for Anything discussion post

MONDAY DECEMBER 9th: First This is Not a Test discussion post

After that, I'll be sticking to the original schedule and we'll end off this Read-Along with a bang! (There will be one giveaway going up in the next couple of days and possibly another one near the end of the month!)

I'm actually SO EXCITED to reread This Is Not a Test. It is, quite possibly, my favorite of Summers' books and I'm looking forward to returning to this story. I know some of you might be put off by a zombie book (or you could be all YAY ZOMBIES, who knows) but this book is about so much more than that. If you want to hear my thoughts, I reviewed This Is Not a Test when it came out last year. I hope you love it as much as I do!

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

So, here's how the month is going to work. Each week we'll be reading designated pages from the book (the list of pages is below)! Every Sunday, there will be a discussion post about that week's chapters! You can read as fast or as slow as you want (aka you don't have to follow the schedule, that's just how we'll be separating the discussions), and I hope you guys will participate in the discussions on Sunday. Throughout the month, there will be guest posts, reviews, and other cool things (including giveaways)! You don't have to have signed up to participate! Just comment below saying you want to join.

  THIS IS NOT A TEST Page Breakdown

Week One (Dec. 1st - 8th): Pages 1 -59

Week Two (Dec. 9th - 15th): Pages 60 - 115

Week Three (Nov. 16th - 22nd): Pages 116 - 171

Week Four (Nov. 23rd - 29th): Pages 172 - the end

If this is your first read or your fourth, thank you guys SO MUCH for participating. I can't wait to hear what you guys think!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

P.S. I also wrote a post last week about depression and books that you can read here (if you're into that sort of thing). 

GIVEAWAY: This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Hi fabulous people!

As promised, today I have a giveaway for you guys! Thanks to the awesome Kelly from Stacked, I'm offering up TWO copies of THIS IS NOT A TEST (December's Read-Along Pick)! ONE is open to participants AND non-participants (although, if you win and want to participate that's awesome as well)! ONE is open to Read-Along participants ONLY. The giveaway will last about two weeks, ending on November 15th!

THIS IS NOT A TEST is, quite possibly, my favorite book in this world favorite (and has one of my favorite covers). Which, is saying a lot. It is not your typical zombie book, but a heart-breaking, truthful story about what it's like to live. If you want to hear more of my thoughts, check out my review here.

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Giveaway Rules (FIRST Rafflecopter Giveaway):

- Must be 13 years or older

- International (where the Book Depository ships!)

- You do NOT have to be a participant in the Read-along

- Not responsible for lost or damaged prizes (sorry!)

- I reserve the right to disqualify as I see fit (aka don't fake entries pretty please!)

- Fill in the Rafflecopter form to be entered!

Giveaway Rules (SECOND Rafflecopter Giveaway):

- You MUST BE A READ-ALONG PARTICIPANT to enter

- Must be 13 years or older

- International (where the Book Depository ships!)

- Not responsible for lost or damaged prizes (sorry!)

- I reserve the right to disqualify as I see fit (aka don't fake entries pretty please!)

- Fill in the Rafflecopter form to be entered!

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone! And thanks again Kelly!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Courtney Summers Read-Along: AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY

Hi, guys!

Have a mentioned how amazing and generous some people are? Cause really, I've had some amazing people help out with this Read-Along and donate some awesome prizes. Today, I have another giveaway for you! THREE people will win one audiobook copy (via Audible) of either Cracked Up to Be, Some Girls Are, or This Is Not a Test!

Giveaway Rules: 

- Must be 13 years or older

- INTERNATIONAL (So long as you can receive audiobooks from Audible)

- You do NOT have to be a participant in the Read-along to enter (but, if you are, there's bonus entries for you!)

- Not responsible for lost or damaged prize (I don't know how digital audiobooks would get lost or damaged but hey, just covering the bases!)

- I reserve the right to disqualify as I see fit (aka don't fake entries pretty please!)

- Fill in the Rafflecopter form to be entered!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  
I want to say a massive thank you to Damon for donating the audiobooks for this giveaway! This giveaway ends on November 7th so be sure to enter before then!

GOOD LUCK!

 - Ciara (Lost at Midnight)