The Kooky Bookworm: The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date Published: March 1st 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia

When I first picked up The Summer Prince I'll admit that I thought it sounded interesting, but nothing earth-shattering. I thought it would be just one among many. Boy was I wrong. This book is unforgettable.

June is an artist who wants to be heard. Enki is the Summer Prince, destined to die. Together June and Enki create the best art that Palmares Tres has ever seen. It's explosive and magical. This world you read about it mind-blowing.

I'll admit that the whole concept with the Summer Prince seems barbaric to me. I'm all about girl power and kicking boy-butt. But choosing a prince just to kill them? Eh, a little on the crazy side of ideas.

But as far as the book went? It was amazing. The technology sounded freakish, but uber-cool. The writing style the author has is pretty cool. It's hard to relate to a futuristic society that you have to conjure up in your mind. The author did a brilliant job of piecing it together for us readers.

This book is phenomenal. It's hard to find the words to explain just how good it is. This is real originality and creativity. I've never read anything like this, it's impossible to compare this to something of equal ingenious. I don't think there is anything that can match this book.

To sum it up, The Summer Prince took me completely by surprise and I loved every second of it. Alaya Dawn Johnson, kudos to you.

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Synopsis:

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.