FREE-TO-FALL

1. [Download ebook] Free to Fall Free to Fall Lauren Miller *Download PDF | ePub | DOC | audiobook | ebooks #1135009 in Books 2014-05-13 2014-05-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 1.45 x 5.50l, 1.15 #File Name: 0062199803480 pages | File size: 58.Mb Lauren Miller : Free to Fall before purchasing it in order to gage whether or not it would be worth my time, and all praised Free to Fall: 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Like a really good roller coaster rideBy John Rogers ClarkIVRory Vaughn never knew her mother who died shortly after having the C-section that brought Rory into the world. Now sixteen years later, in a world where handheld devices are pretty much running everyone's life, thanks to an app called Lux, she's been accepted at Theban Academy in Massachusetts, all the way across the country from her home in Seattle. When her dad learns she's been accepted, he gives her a letter and a necklace her dead mother left with

2. instructions for her to receive them if she was ever accepted at the school. Things begin to speed up and get pretty complicated once she's on her way. Another girl from her school, Hershey, was also accepted and although they have nothing in common, the girls end up as roommates. Rory learns that her mother went to the same school, but dropped out just before graduating and reappeared in her dad's life, convincing him to marry her. She also runs into a mysterious guy, North, whose arms are covered with tattoos at a coffeehouse in the town just off campus. Initially a bit put off by his appearance, it isn't long before she realizes there's considerable attraction between them. Good thing there is, because there are strange goings on at school. After years of not hearing the inner voice referred to as The Doubt, Rory hears it in her first class, Plato Practicum, taught by a woman who seems to have it in for her. It isn't long before Rory realizes that what she believed about her mom wasn't entirely correct, but when she and North begin digging, she finds reports altered or erased. Her roommate's behavior becomes quite suspicious and Rory is invited to be considered for a super secret society that may have a long ago connection to her mom. In a very short period of time, Rory finds herself doubting pretty much everything she used to take for granted, discovers a shocking truth about her parents, as well as what's really going on behind the scenes at Theban Academy. It's almost impossible to know who to trust except for North, who reveals his own secret bag of tricks. The more they dig, the scarier the information becomes and the last third of the book is a real roller coaster, keeping the reader flipping pages and oblivious to everything around them. It's a great read for teens who like dystopian fiction or who like technology heavy stories. This is a very good addition for both school and public library collections.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Futuristic YA SciFiBy Lisa from Read.Breathe.Relax.Free to Fall was not what I expected. AT ALL.Weve all read about the super smart schools for the gifted that cater to making smart kids geniuses. And, weve read about advanced societys where technology has grown and people have become dependent.Free to Fall combines these ideas but in a totally new and fresh way.Our leading lady, Rory, is a straight-laced kid. Shes super dedicated to her studies and has been dying to enter Theden Academy. Once you enter its gates, your life is basically set. A top job at Gnosis is basically yours.As Rory starts her classes and learns more about Theden, she has no idea how much her life is going to change especially when she decides to start taking control instead of letting her smartphone app do it for her.What makes this book immediately relatable is the setting. Its set in the not-too-far future around 2030-ish, I believe, so there are a lot of references and present-day similarities that put me at ease immediately. Its nice in scifi to not have to constantly get your bearings (oh, where is this set? some other planet? what time and/or alternative history are we dealing with?).Then, theres Rory. Shes definitely the type of girl I can relate to. Good student, hard worker, rule-follower. But as the story progresses, I saw her change and shift from insecure and fearful of making mistakes to adventurous and decisive. She was totally believable as a heroine, and very endearing.But, where I think the true genius of Free to Fall comes into play iswhat I cant talk about! All of the twists and secret histories and sub-plots are what make this book great. I LOVED how Miller turned this book into something bigger and grander than just Rorys story.She made it about our society and culture, about a realistic state of affairs that could happen if we let it. And, about morality and ethics. She deftly wove big concepts into a very readable tale that left me excited to read more from her.My teensiest beef is I think one part at the end is a bit convenient (like a save-the-day type situation). But, its so easy to overlook that I didnt really mind at all.OVEALL:If youre looking for a stand out young adult scifi novel set in a not-so-distant future and with some big yet relatble themes, this book is for you. I loved how much the main character grew as a person and how such twisty plots were unveiled. Free to Fall is truly a unique take on technology, culture and making huge life choices very much recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fun Rollacoaster rideBy Susannah St Clair Foxy LoxyI must still have a lot of "youngster" in me even now in my 70's. There area lot of young adult books I really enjoy.This book way more than most. Great fun, hard to put down. There are couple of what I call "falter points" toward the end by Ms. Miller pulls it togther and arrives at a great destination. Want to repeat, hard to put down because it was. I really can see a cool movie here! Wish someone with real influence sees it too. From the author of Parallel comes a high-stakes romantic puzzler set in a near-future where everyone's life is seamlessly orchestrated by personal electronic devices. Imaginative and thrilling, this fast-paced story with two starred reviews is not to be missed.Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision-making for the best personal results. Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is to follow what Lux recommends. When she's accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school. Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn't use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux's recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignorea choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming. From School Library JournalGr 9 UpWhen Rory Vaughn, 16, gets accepted to a prestigious boarding school, she's

3. elated. Even Lux, her decision-making app, tells her that Theden Academy is the best way to assure her perfect future. Yet, within her first few days there, Rory finds so much more than what she'd expected on the surface, and inconsistencies about her own birth lead the teen to question her own past, present, and vision for the future. With friends and teachers who encourage her to follow the illustrious path of Theden alums, she wonders why she finds herself so drawn to the rebellious hacker North and his outsider, anti-Lux lifestyle? As more secrets of the past are uncovered, Rory begins to wonder if the same covert group that may have caused her mother's death could now be after her. Miller's science fictionbased romantic thriller takes on social commentary about teens consulting technology for every aspect of their lives. Engaging and thought-provoking, Free to Fall should appeal to a variety of readers with its blend of action, secrecy, and romance, and it provides excellent discussion opportunities.Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MAFrom BooklistRory is thrilled when she is accepted at Theden Academy, the most prestigious school in the country. Her mother had gone there, but she left before graduation and died in childbirth less than a year later. Theden promises their students exceptional futures, but within the elite circle is an even smaller, more prestigious group, for which Rory is tapped. As she becomes more immersed in her new life, Rory realizes her mother has left clues to protect her from things that arent as they seem. Miller has created intricate societies within and outside Theden. Now, people are tethered to a device called Lux that makes many of their decisions. Also discouraged is listening to gut feelings, renamed the Doubt. A relationship with a hacker, North, allows Rory to delve deep into the real purpose behind Lux, Theden Academy, and the intended impact on individual lives. Miller smartly doesnt exchange strong, involving characters for nonstop actiontheres plenty of both. Readers may not quite understand every technical detail, but theyll be thoroughly caught up in the romance and the storys very high stakes. Grades 8-12. -- Ilene Cooper Miller (Parallel) offers an intricately plotted, intellectually rich thriller that will please a range of readers, from those searching for a page-turner to those wishing to thoroughly engage the mind. (Publishers Weekly (starred review))Engaging and thought-provoking, Free to Fall should appeal to a variety of readers with its blend of action, secrecy, and romance, and it provides excellent discussion opportunities. (School Library Journal (starred review))Miller smartly doesnt exchange strong, involving characters for nonstop actiontheres plenty of both. (Booklist)Praise for PARALLEL: A fun, twisty novel about the paths you choose and the paths you dontto follow your hearts desire. Deeply romantic and entertaining! (Melissa de la Cruz, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of BLUE BLOODS and WITCHES OF EAST END)Penetrating, jawdropping, and so real, PARALLEL had me turning pages at warp speed, hoping for the best tomorrow. Read this book. (Huntley Fitzpatrick, author of MY LIFE NEXT DOOR)Best. Debut. Novel. Ever. (Lauren Barnholdt, author of TWOWAY STREET)PARALLEL beautifully tackles the universal themes of fate, destiny, and the search for a soulmate, proving that there are no wrong turns. Your heart will soar and youll be cheering at the end. (Jordanna Fraiberg, author of IN YOUR ROOM)Wildly inventive and wonderfully romantic, PARALLEL takes readers on a journey that will open their minds and their hearts. (Jennifer E. Smith, author of THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT)Thoughtprovoking, romantic, and so, so smart, PARALLEL is an absolute mustread for anyone and everyone who has ever wondered, What if? (Anna Jarzab, author of ALL UNQUIET THINGS)An intricatelywoven story about free will, parallel universes, and cute boys. Miller nails the inner snark of the high school senior, as well as the confusion of figuring out just where your life is supposed to be headed. (Kat Zhang, author of WHATS LEFT OF ME)