Ender's Game

Summary
In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

Afterthoughts
Ender's Game was referred to me years ago, but I never read it until this past week and, wow, was I missing out.
The book focuses on Andrew (Ender) Wiggin and his journey to becoming the leader that Earth needs against alien invaders. It's fast-paced, interesting, and sucks you in. I can almost guarantee that, like me, you will be unable to put this book down. The characters are really captivating, though you only get to know two of them.
While reading, I was constantly impressed by and cheering for Ender. He is a brilliant protagonist and my heart ached for him throughout the story, mostly because of a fact that I kept forgetting: Ender is a kid. He is between the ages of 6 and 11 for most of the book, yet he is one of the most gripping POVs I've read!
Ender's Game is my favorite read from this summer and I look forward to reading some, if not all, of the sequel's in the coming months. READ THIS BOOK!!!! 'Nuff said.

Warnings
Violence

Extras
Ender's Game is being made into a movie that releases in November!
Movie Trailer:

Author's Site

Starters

Summary
In a future Los Angeles, becoming someone else is now possible. Sixteen-year-old Callie discovers the Body Bank where teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. But when her neurochip malfunctions, she wakes up in the mansion of her rich renter and finds she is going out with a senator’s grandson. It’s a fairy-tale new life, until she discovers her renter’s deadly plan.

Afterthoughts
This dystopian offered a brand new view of a post-apocalyptic world, which was one of my favorite parts. The more you read, the more common plot structures and settings become, so this book was a refreshing read.
When America is attacked by biological warfare, they vaccinate children and the elderly against the spores, but don't have time to vaccinate anyone between the ages of 20 and 60, which wipes out that portion of the population. I really liked how this scenario is pretty realistic and believable.
The characters and plot were well thought through and enjoyable to read. Callie is an interesting POV to read and I like how her situation colors the way the story is perceived. The story ends with a twist that I definitely did not see coming and I can't wait to read the sequel. This is quite a worthwhile read!

Warnings
None.

Extras
Lissa Price's Site
Book Trailer: