Uncaged by Joe Gazzam

As an author, I get the awesome privilege of reading books before their release (all you book bloggers out there know how fun it is to get your hands on literary gold before anyone else). Right now I'm reading 2 manuscripts, 1 self-pub., writing my third book, indulging in my YA addiction by savoring every page of Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi, and I just finished this ARC...It was awesome, so I thought I'd share :)

Uncaged technically falls under the YA genre as it follows 18-year-old Jason through a scared straight program gone wrong. As we all know, the YA genre is morphing into many things, one of which is the New Adult genre. With New Adult, the older YA lovers get a little more of what they want *cough* super sexay hotness *cough* What's interesting about Uncaged is that it is yet another YA book that steps outside of the traditional mold of YA. It appeals to the older readers, not with sexual tension, but with more detailed action. You can imagine the things that might happen if a prison full of crazy people were "uncaged." For those who aren't reading YA for the hot boys with their shirts off, this book is right up your alley. It is page-turning, intense, action packed, kick-ass-ness all in one. Seriously, my heart was pounding with each page. 

Here is a little more about the novel.

Jason seems destined to screw things up. After capping off a burglary and a bar fight with a car wreck, he quickly finds himself on the wrong side of the law. And since his father's the governor, that means his punishment is about as public as it gets. Jason's thrown into the first Scared Straight program Florida has ever run in their updated, state-of-the-art Blackenbush Penitentiary. Along with a documentary crew led by Sasha, a young woman in way over her head, and a handful of other kids a year and a strike away from jail, Jason comes face to face with his inevitable future on the other side of a heavily guarded prison wall.

But that's just the beginning. The tour has barely begun when one of the inmates makes a move. Before long the entire penitentiary is under siege, surrounded by the feds and overrun with prisoners let loose from their cells. Jason slips away with Sasha in the chaos, but they won't be able to escape without help. And the only thing worse than being stuck in prison, is being stuck in a prison run by the inmates.

If you're interested in interviewing the author or would like to review the book prior to its release on October 22nd, then shoot me an email at therrien.jessica@gmail.com and I will get you in touch with the right people.

What is everyone else reading these days?