Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Publish date: 2012
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Length: 374 pages
"Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland--known as The Death Shop--are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild--a savage--and her only hope of staying alive. 

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile--everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky." (Goodreads)

Under the Never Sky and I have a history. I bought it from Anderson's when I went to the Spring into the Future signing the night before RT Teen Day in Chicago. It was in 2012, but I swear it was just last year! Anyway, I bought it and had Veronica Rossi sign it without having read it, just assuming I'd like it. I tried reading it for the first time during a readathon and quit after 100 pages. I was completely lost and just wasn't getting into it at all. I was especially bummed because I loved meeting Veronica and thought she was hilarious and fun to listen to.

Fast forward to last month when we had a two snow days to start the week and I'd run out of books to read, having brought home and read Starters and The Caged Graves from my classroom library. Nothing sounded good on my kindle, so I was looking through my own books, hoping something would jump out at me, when I decided to give UTNS another shot. Amazingly, I got really into it and loved it!

The beginning of Under the Never Sky is really confusing, to me at least, and if you are thinking about reading it, just push through and keep going. Once you get about a third in, things really click and it becomes hard to put down. I read it over 2 days and was happy I picked it up when I didn't have to work--it would have been hard to stop reading! I was sucked into the story and found it to be a fresh take on the dystopian/futuristic science fiction genre. I still have a lot of questions about the world building, but I'm hoping they will be answered in Through the Ever Night (which I am currently reading).

I used my experience with Under the Never Sky as an example to my students of reading the right book at the right time. The first time I tried to read it, it didn't work out at all, either due to readathon burn out or just not feeling the genre. After a long break and needing a new book though, UTNS clicked! I definitely am wondering now if I should go back to any books I DNFed to try again...

Anderson's Bookshop/RT Teen Day

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a signing at Anderson's bookshop in Naperville, IL, and RT Teen Day in Chicago! I got to meet some of my favorite authors and bloggers, including Jen, Jamie, Tara, Anna, and Kristi. It was a fun and crazy weekend and I can't wait to hopefully see everyone again!

Friday morning we woke up really early and made it to Chicago by about 11 am. We headed to the Field Museum for a couple hours, then had some Chicago style pizza and walked around Michigan Ave for a while. After checking in at the hotel and resting a bit, we went to Anderson's bookshop in Naperville so I could attend the Spring into the Future author tour. 

Taherah Mafi, Cynthia Hand, Anna Carey, and Veronica Rossi were at the tour stop, none of whom I had met before. They were all hilarious and smart and I'm so glad I went! I brought my own copy of Hallowed for Cynthia to sign, then purchased Shatter Me and Under the Never Sky for Taherah and Veronica to sign. I loved Shatter Me, but didn't have my own copy; I've never read UtNS, but plan to tackle it this weekend during the readathon.

RT Teen Day was INSANE but AWESOME. The giant book fair/signing opened at 11 and I think I was in line by 9:30 am, having seen on twitter that people were already waiting. The line went pretty quickly, plus I brought a book to read while waiting (seemed like the appropriate thing to do).

The adorable Stephanie Perkins

I met/got books signed by:

Beth Revis

Stephanie Perkins

Jeri Smith-Ready

Veronica Roth

Saundra Mitchell

Sophie Jordan

After the book fair, there were 6 panels to choose from, 2 during each time frame. The first was called From Spark to Fire and featured Kelley Armstrong, Nancy Holder, Veronica Roth, Beth Revis, Margaret Stohl, and Cinda Williams Chima. It was moderated by the amazing Melissa Marr, who organized Teen Day. The whole panel was really inspiring and makes me want to write!

Panel 2 was author speed reading, which featured a snippet of Insurgent (eeek!). That was the highlight, although it was nice to hear Cynthia Hand and Stephanie Perkins read from books I love.

The fantastic Jeri Smith-Ready

The last panel was Tending the Inferno: Series, Stand-Alones, and Genre in YA Novels. It was HILARIOUS. Everyone was tired and slap happy and just fantastically funny. Margie Stohl moderated in place of Melissa Marr and I think I had stomach cramps from laughing so hard. Authors on the panel were Franny Billingsley, Rachel Caine, Ally Carter, Kimberly Derting, Stephanie Perkins, and Carrie Ryan. Beth Revis was in the audience too, which I thought was so cool. 

The teen day party was pretty great as well, though by that point I was really tired and slightly cranky (who, me??). I wish I wasn't as shy as I am/was and had gotten some pictures with authors. Next time! I was able to get a goody bag from the party, which was full of 8 books donated by various publishers. I brought the books to my classroom this morning and 5 were already borrowed by students! Thanks RT!!

There are so many great books out there that I haven't read yet and I can't wait to dive into some. Some authors I'd like to try based on this weekend, either from listening to the authors themselves or from blogger love, are Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Kiera Cass, Cinda Williams Chima, Richelle Mead, and Ally Carter. I sadly have not read anything by these authors, so any suggestions?

Warning: sappiness follows

I came away from this convention realizing just how great the YA community really is. I left Saturday night, especially from the panels, feeling so inspired to read, write, and blog. People in YA, whether they are readers or writers, are just amazing and some of the best people to be around. Being with so many enthusiastic readers and YA lovers just felt like coming home :)