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Book Reviews of Uninvited (Uninvited, Bk 1)

Uninvited (Uninvited, Bk 1)
Uninvited - Uninvited, Bk 1
Author: Sophie Jordan
ISBN-13: 9780062233653
ISBN-10: 0062233653
Publication Date: 1/28/2014
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 15

3.6 stars, based on 15 ratings
Publisher: HarperTeen
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

4 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

spicedlatte avatar reviewed Uninvited (Uninvited, Bk 1) on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Uninvited is the kind of book that you cannot give up to. The thrill and the adventure only begins in the second part of the book that makes you question the blurred line between dystopian genre and the real world.

With high violence rate, 2021 brings promise where everyone is required to get tested for HTS a gene that is also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome, or kill gene. People that have this gene are dangerous to society and eventually will snap and kill someone. Before Davy Hamilton got tested positive for HTS, she was the girl that everyone wanted to be. Popular, talented, accepted to Juilliard, and with the hot boyfriend who will do anything for her. But when everyone finds out that she is a carrier, they see her as a monster. Someone who will eventually snap. Davy is forced to go to a different school with other carriers where the real threat is not what the outside the Cage, but on the inside.

First 60% was definitely sometimes out of Chick-Lit genre. Girl likes a boy and then theres a big tragedy and he rejects her with her best friend betraying her back. Davy was a typical teenager with thinking a little too high of herself. I wasnt sure if I was going to like this book because of the way she acted. Her simple I am better so I cannot be a carrier demeanor was a complete turn off.

However. Once you get to the second part of the book, this is where the action begins. With military grade training and high alert security, the world-building becomes less of a reality. You can clearly see the switch that was made in Devy and her realization that only the strongest will survive. She became strong, fearless, and simply amazing.
reviewed Uninvited (Uninvited, Bk 1) on + 380 more book reviews
Summary:
Davy starts out on top of the world. She is homecoming queen, a musical prodigy, and on her way to Julliard. Her boyfriend is hot and everything is coming up roses, until her genetic testing comes back and she is found to have to have the Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. Now she has been uninvited from her private school and forced to attend a new school and is segregated from all of the regular kids. Then she is sent to this mysterious training facility and she doesn't exactly know what to do or why she is there.

My thoughts:
I wanted to love this book. I love Sophie Jordan. She is on e of the few author's that has personally been involved with my students and helped me out with a project I completed on young adult literature. That doesn't just happen all of the time. So, I was biased going into this novel. The premise of the book sounded interesting and dystopians are my favorite, so I jumped in. Unfortunately, I never built that special bond with Davy. I actually found that I liked Sean more than anything. He is much more of a hero to me than Davy is. Also, I found that Davy was a little slow on the uptake. For someone that was on top of the world with everything and in a prestigious school, I just figured she would pick up on things quickly. She doesn't. It's almost to the point where I wanted someone to bop her over the head. Overall, I enjoyed the plot in spite of the fact that I wasn't really interested in Davy.
susieqmillsacoustics avatar reviewed Uninvited (Uninvited, Bk 1) on + 1062 more book reviews
When I started this book, I was disappointed as it had the "teen romance" factor that always makes me wary of YA. Still, I was intrigued by the idea enough to keep reading. Then it seemed just so tragic that I wondered if I wanted to see it through. Next, it became impossible to put down so I was pleasantly surprised! Intense and thought provoking, I have to say I REALLY liked this in the end and I will definitely be reading the follow up!
ophelia99 avatar reviewed Uninvited (Uninvited, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
I got a copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. This is the first book in the Uninvited series, the second book in the series will be titled Unleashed, I couldnt find a release date for it yet. This was a very engaging book, that was very tense and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Davy Hamilton is incredibly smart and a musical genius, she has a very bright future ahead of her and is attending a prestigious high school. Then she tests positive for HTS (homicidal tendency syndrome) and her life comes crashing down around her. Her friends dont want to be around her anymore because she could be dangerous, Juilliard uninvites her from attending college there, and she is kicked out of her high school and forced to attend a high school that accepts HTS carriers into its midst. Davy is really struggling but then she meets Sean another HTS carrier, he seems dangerous but is also sympathetic...and maybe just maybe he can help Davy get through this nightmare.

I enjoyed the idea of a kill gene and the all of the social implications of people getting isolated and punished before they ever even kill anyone. There is a lot of discussion of what makes someone a killer. Some of the HTS carriers are just plain cruel, but what about those who end up killers because they are protecting their loved ones and have no choice?

The book is very well written and I loved the parts between chapters that were excerpts from newscasts or laws or letters.

Davy is a bit vanilla at the beginning of the book, she just kind of accepts things and tries to make the best of them. However, as the book continues we learn that she is strong in her own way. I kind of wished that she would stand up for herself more, rather than depend on Sean to protect her all of the time.

Sean is your typical noble bad-boy. He is obviously been in trouble a lot, but mostly it seems like he was in trouble for the right reasons. He is very protective of Davy.

However, my main problem with this book is that it wasn't all that creative. You can't help but think of Minority Report as you read this novel. The only difference being that this book uses genetic testing to weed out killers. Also it reminds a bit of The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken, kids are separated out and treated in very similar ways. Society reacts very similarly to the kill gene as they do to the special powers presented in The Darkest Minds series.

The plot is very intense and was super hard to put down. The main thing that makes this novels stand apart is that some of the genetic testing is done when kids are very very young. So you can have six or seven year olds, even newborns, labeled as killers before they even understand what's really going on.

Overall it was a very engaging read and I definitely recommend it. Just don't expect a story that is breaking new ground. The whole time I was reading it I couldnt help but compare the idea to similar books and movies that have already been released. It is a well done young adult sci-fi thriller though and I think fans of young adult thrillers will enjoy it.