Review + Giveaway: Scan by Walter Jury & Sarah Fine

Title: Scan (Scan, #1)
Author: Walter Jury & Sarah Fine
Pages: 336
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: May 1, 2014

Tate and his father don’t exactly get along. As Tate sees it, his father has unreasonably high expectations for Tate to be the best—at everything. Tate finally learns what he’s being prepared for when he steals one of his dad’s odd tech inventions and mercenaries ambush the school, killing his father in the process and sending Tate on the run from aliens who look just like humans.

All Tate knows--like how to make weapons out of oranges and lighter fluid--may not be enough to save him as he’s plunged into a secret inter-species conflict that’s been going on for centuries. Aided only by his girlfriend and his estranged mother, with powerful enemies closing in on all sides, Tate races to puzzle out the secret behind his father’s invention and why so many are willing to kill for it. A riveting, fast-paced adventure, Scan is a clever alien thriller with muscle and heart.

My Thoughts: Before I started reading Scan, I expected it to have action and suspense. But I wasn't fully prepared for just how nonstop the action would be! There was car chases and crashes, explosions, gun fights, and so much more. It was nerve-racking yet exciting, and I could not wait to find out what would happen to the characters and how the book would end.

Throughout the majority of his life, Tate's had to endure rigorous training in combat and master as many subjects and languages as he could all because that's what his father wanted. Tate doesn't know why his father puts him through this, and since both of his parents refuse to tell him, it unsurprisingly causes tons of friction between them. Once Tate finds out the truth, though, he has to use all the knowledge and skills he's learned in order to survive and protect his loved ones.

I couldn't help but to be just as frustrated as Tate was with his parents. I didn't feel like they had been fair to him, keeping all kinds of secrets and information from him that would have been really helpful to know as soon as the chaos started. But as the story went on and things became more and more dangerous and complicated, I began to realize right along with Tate that it was necessary and for his own good. He probably would have been blinded by his beliefs and wouldn't be as good of a person as he is now had he known everything from the very beginning.

If you're wondering what Tate's father had been hiding from his son, well, it was lots of things. But what it all involved was...ALIENS! Aliens that arrived on Earth about 400 years ago and look exactly like humans. But what started off the unfortunate chain of events was a small device, a scanner, Tate stole from his father that can reveal who is a human and who is an alien. Both sides wanted it badly, and while you would think the aliens were the evil ones, it wasn't that simple. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda, and like Tate, I didn't know who to trust! Even by the end, I still didn't know who the real enemy was, which was something I really liked because not all humans were good just like not all aliens were bad.

One other thing I would like to mention is the importance of the women in Tate's life. I'm glad that Tate's girlfriend Christina and his mother were involved with the mission of protecting the scanner. Tate's skills and resilience helped him a lot, but I don't think he would have made it without them at his side. They were tough, smart, and resourceful, and together they made an awesome team! I especially adored Christina. She didn't have the training Tate and his mother had, but she knew how to hold her own. I loved how much she was willing to help them, even when she was hurt or terrified. As for Tate and Christina's relationship, it was sweet and obvious that they cared deeply and felt strongly for each other. But because of what they were going through, they also had plenty of tense and uncomfortable moments. I hope they are able to overcome whatever issues they may have because I really want them to stick together.

Walter Jury and Sarah Fine have a written a truly thrilling and suspenseful story that had me on the edge of my seat till the very end. I have no idea what's in store for Tate, his mother, and Christina in the next book, but I can't wait to find out. If you're looking for a smart, action-packed book, you need to get your hands on a copy of Scan!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

---

Bookittyblog and Joyousreads have also read and reviewed Scan (check out their blogs to read their reviews!). We want to give someone the chance to read Scan early too, so we're giving away an ARC! This giveaway is open internationally and ends April 26 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email before a new winner is chosen. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway