Lissa Price’s STARTERS just debuted on Tuesday, WOOT!  Here’s a look at the cover:

oooh, SHINY!

(you can’t tell on the screen, but the background is all metallic and sparkly–it was an awesome surprise when I saw the book in person!)

And here’s the official summary:

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER 

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie’s only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie’s head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator’s grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations’ plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . 

First of all, it’s not just any cookie they’d kill for, but a Supertruffle–and I *totally* want one.  *drools*

Next–and perhaps a wee bit more important–oh my gosh, the concept of this book was spectacular!  As I read, Starters played out in my head like a movie, and I think sci fi movie fans  (lovers of both old-school stuff like Total Recall and newfangled flicks like Source Code) will gobble this up!

Poor Arnie....

Ms. Price thrusts you right into the story–no page after page of info-dumping here!  We start in a very tense spot, when the main character Callie first visits the sinister Prime Destinations, a company that “rents” teen bodies to Enders (they put the *senior* in senior citizen) for an exorbitant price (creepy, right? Also, *snicker*–does anyone else think that the name Prime Destination would lead to a whole new batch of terrible pickup lines?)

Callie is instantly sympathetic as a young girl who is barely scraping by in a new world devoid of guardians, one who is willing to do anything to save her brother–even if that means allowing complete strangers to take her body for a little joyride.  I loved how the mystery played out, too–that definitely kept me flipping the pages!  There was a really poignant and thought-provoking part involving the senator’s son that reminded me of why I teared up during Meet Joe Black.  And, oh man, what a TEASE at the end. Is book two here yet?  *taps foot*

If you’re ready for a fast-paced, super cool sci fi read, then definitely give STARTERS a try.

Don’t forget to see what the other Bookanistas are up to:

Christine Fonseca  interviews author Heather McCorkle

Megan Miranda gives stars to STARTERS

Stasia Ward Kehoe is giddy about GEEKTASTIC – with giveaway!

Nikki Katz praises PANDEMONIUM

Hilary Wagner swoons for PINK SMOG – with giveaway