The White Lilac by Christina J. Adams

Fifteen year old Caryn Tobin is willing to sacrifice her life to save the world, and to atone for her part in the death of a friend. Kai Garrett will risk everything to discover his past and why he was abandon. When their paths join, they form an unlikely friendship that could change everything. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

A dystopian young adult novel, this story is a nice addition to the genre, providing adventure and romance enough to satisfy readers.

Although I am not a huge fan of sci-fi-ish books, this one drew me in from the beginning. The author does a nice job of building and describing Beta Earth, the world in which the story takes place, without drowning out the main story line. This, as I’m sure you know, is not easy to do in sci-fi books.

I enjoyed the switch in perspectives, from first person during Caryn’s chapters, to third person during Kai’s. This isn’t very common, but it worked wonderfully for this particular story, allowing for different layers of plot to peek through. This also allows for lots of characterization, especially with Caryn. She is an interesting character, who manages to change throughout the book, becoming someone stronger. Always a good sign.

Apart from a few grammar and spelling issues, what bothered me just a bit was the ending, which though I won’t reveal it felt a little too predictable. It would have been nice to have ended on a twist or something a bit different.

Overall, though, this is a fun one and I do recommend it.