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A review by momwithareadingproblem
Sparks by Ashley C. Harris
5.0
A BIG thank you to Barclay Publicity for providing a copy for review! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sparks by [a:Ashley C. Harris|6007331|Ashley C. Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1409948493p2/6007331.jpg] picks up two weeks after the end of Shock Me and our characters are feeling paranoia and true fear as their world has turned upside down. FAIR WARNING…IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK OF THIS SERIES, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW AS THERE WILL BE SOME SPOILERS FROM BOOK ONE. Donna, Rebecca, and Spencer are on edge after the death of their friend Paul at the hands of Randy, Ryan, and Lynn. Donna is still adjusting to her new electric powers, Rebecca is grieving, and Spencer for the first time in a long time is worried about something other than his step-father. Randy is angry at his father and the Electrolite that caused Paul’s death, Ryan is struggling to balance his popular jock image with the beast that resides in him, and Lynn is vying for Ryan’s affections as he becomes more and more distant. When a virus knocks out the security at the power plant, everyone is a suspect, and no one knows who they can trust.
Characters to Love and Hate
Donna Young has to be one of my favorite characters in a young adult series to date! She is shy, quite, and basically a fly on the wall in her small town. No one sees her except for her friends. At least that is what she thinks. As she becomes more and more confident with her powers, it translates over to her everyday life as well and others take notice. Donna becomes this fierce, outspoken, young woman who cares for her family and friends and will do anything to protect them.
Ryan Applegate is no longer the pretty boy jock, unattainable crush from from the first book. Oh no! Now he is the ex-best friend of Donna, the crazed beast who tried to rip her to shreds and would have if her ability didn’t stop him, and seems to be more concerned with making daddy happy than the rest of the world. Ryan goes a bit off the deep end, obsessing over Donna and her welfare, training extra hard, and even making Randy look sane by comparison. I was a bit in love with him last book even after he unknowingly tried to kill Donna, now I’m not so sure. His obsession becomes even worse after Donna tells him to leave her alone (which I applauded and cheered her for!).
Randy Applegate is also struggling a bit this book. He was last book too, but now we know why and I kinda love him! He’s angry, at his father, at the unknown Electrolite (Donna), and at Paul’s unnecessary death. He rebels as much as he possibly can, but he sticks around for one reason and one reason only…Ryan. He has to protect his brother, the only person he considers family. How can you not love that?!
Rebecca and Spencer are the two best friends anyone could ever ask for. Even grieving, Rebecca is there for Donna, trying to help her by looking through Paul’s old files about what she is. And Spencer, he’s like a brother to both girls. He’s protective and always trying to make them smile. I love them :D
The Plot (Action, Action, & More Action)
As I stated earlier, Sparks picks up two weeks after the end of Shock Me and the characters’ lives have been turned upside down. What they thought they knew about their small hometown is proving to be false. The power plant is just a front for a government run agency full of people with special powers like Donna. And Donna’s ex-best friend, his brother and her godfather are all in on the secret. Donna and her friends don’t know who they can trust, and Donna has to be extra careful around the Applegates.
Then, from the grave, Paul releases a virus into the computer systems at the power plant, killing their security protocols and basically putting them in a black out. One thing leads to another and Donna is face to face with Randy and Ryan yet again! But there is more at stake now. Donna must stay hidden and there are others like her that need to be rescued.
Even more startling is the discovery that Donna’s brother who ran away when she was little, may not have run away. What if Mr. Applegate took him like the other children? This sends Donna and her friends on a frantic search.
Like I said, this plot has action and suspense on every page! I couldn’t read it fast enough. The suspense coupled with the intricate details and the slow-revealing of secrets inside the power plant make for a fast-paced read. Also I love, absolutely 100% LOVE the alternating points of view. There are multiple which take a bit of getting used too, but it gives such a full picture of what is going on in the lives of these characters.
My Conclusion
READ IT!!! I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. I love the characters, the alternating points of view, the action-packed plot, and of course the mystery behind the Biomax Soldiers. Book One was just as good and if you haven’t read it, I highly suggest you do so before picking this one up because you will be lost without it! If you enjoy young adult fiction, coming-of-age, fantasy, and science fiction than you want, no you NEED this book. You won’t be disappointed ;)
Sparks by [a:Ashley C. Harris|6007331|Ashley C. Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1409948493p2/6007331.jpg] picks up two weeks after the end of Shock Me and our characters are feeling paranoia and true fear as their world has turned upside down. FAIR WARNING…IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK OF THIS SERIES, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW AS THERE WILL BE SOME SPOILERS FROM BOOK ONE. Donna, Rebecca, and Spencer are on edge after the death of their friend Paul at the hands of Randy, Ryan, and Lynn. Donna is still adjusting to her new electric powers, Rebecca is grieving, and Spencer for the first time in a long time is worried about something other than his step-father. Randy is angry at his father and the Electrolite that caused Paul’s death, Ryan is struggling to balance his popular jock image with the beast that resides in him, and Lynn is vying for Ryan’s affections as he becomes more and more distant. When a virus knocks out the security at the power plant, everyone is a suspect, and no one knows who they can trust.
Characters to Love and Hate
Donna Young has to be one of my favorite characters in a young adult series to date! She is shy, quite, and basically a fly on the wall in her small town. No one sees her except for her friends. At least that is what she thinks. As she becomes more and more confident with her powers, it translates over to her everyday life as well and others take notice. Donna becomes this fierce, outspoken, young woman who cares for her family and friends and will do anything to protect them.
Ryan Applegate is no longer the pretty boy jock, unattainable crush from from the first book. Oh no! Now he is the ex-best friend of Donna, the crazed beast who tried to rip her to shreds and would have if her ability didn’t stop him, and seems to be more concerned with making daddy happy than the rest of the world. Ryan goes a bit off the deep end, obsessing over Donna and her welfare, training extra hard, and even making Randy look sane by comparison. I was a bit in love with him last book even after he unknowingly tried to kill Donna, now I’m not so sure. His obsession becomes even worse after Donna tells him to leave her alone (which I applauded and cheered her for!).
Randy Applegate is also struggling a bit this book. He was last book too, but now we know why and I kinda love him! He’s angry, at his father, at the unknown Electrolite (Donna), and at Paul’s unnecessary death. He rebels as much as he possibly can, but he sticks around for one reason and one reason only…Ryan. He has to protect his brother, the only person he considers family. How can you not love that?!
Rebecca and Spencer are the two best friends anyone could ever ask for. Even grieving, Rebecca is there for Donna, trying to help her by looking through Paul’s old files about what she is. And Spencer, he’s like a brother to both girls. He’s protective and always trying to make them smile. I love them :D
The Plot (Action, Action, & More Action)
As I stated earlier, Sparks picks up two weeks after the end of Shock Me and the characters’ lives have been turned upside down. What they thought they knew about their small hometown is proving to be false. The power plant is just a front for a government run agency full of people with special powers like Donna. And Donna’s ex-best friend, his brother and her godfather are all in on the secret. Donna and her friends don’t know who they can trust, and Donna has to be extra careful around the Applegates.
Then, from the grave, Paul releases a virus into the computer systems at the power plant, killing their security protocols and basically putting them in a black out. One thing leads to another and Donna is face to face with Randy and Ryan yet again! But there is more at stake now. Donna must stay hidden and there are others like her that need to be rescued.
Even more startling is the discovery that Donna’s brother who ran away when she was little, may not have run away. What if Mr. Applegate took him like the other children? This sends Donna and her friends on a frantic search.
Like I said, this plot has action and suspense on every page! I couldn’t read it fast enough. The suspense coupled with the intricate details and the slow-revealing of secrets inside the power plant make for a fast-paced read. Also I love, absolutely 100% LOVE the alternating points of view. There are multiple which take a bit of getting used too, but it gives such a full picture of what is going on in the lives of these characters.
My Conclusion
READ IT!!! I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. I love the characters, the alternating points of view, the action-packed plot, and of course the mystery behind the Biomax Soldiers. Book One was just as good and if you haven’t read it, I highly suggest you do so before picking this one up because you will be lost without it! If you enjoy young adult fiction, coming-of-age, fantasy, and science fiction than you want, no you NEED this book. You won’t be disappointed ;)