Disintegrate

by Christine Klocek-Lim

~Editor's Pick~Emily just wanted a normal a boyfriend, college, two parents who loved her. Instead, her dad disappeared when she was fourteen and her life at college is anything but ordinary.When you can manipulate matter like putty and you have no idea why, how do you pretend to be like everyone else? What happens when you meet a guy who has the same powers? Do you trust him to help you find the answers you need?Emily desperately wants to believe that Jax can help, but the stakes grow higher than she’d ever someone is after them and they’re not afraid to use violence to get what they want.

Genres: Paranormal

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2013

About the author

Christine Klocek-Lim spends most of her time daydreaming—which isn’t much different from what she did as a girl in northeast Pennsylvania, as a college student in Pittsburgh, as a twenty-something technical writer in New York City, and as a young mother in suburban New Jersey. For the past decade or so she’s been dream-surfing in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.

She received the 2009 Ellen La Forge Memorial Prize in poetry. She has one young adult novel, Disintegrate, and four chapbooks: Ballroom – a love story, Cloud Studies – a sonnet sequence, How to photograph the heart, and The book of small treasures.

Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and was a finalist for 3 Quarks Daily’s Prize in Arts & Literature, Black Lawrence Press’ Black River Chapbook Competition, the Kenneth & Geraldine Gell Poetry Prize, as well as a semi-finalist for the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award, the Sawtooth Poetry Prize, the Philip Levine Prize in Poetry, and for the Brittingham and Pollak Poetry Prizes.

Her website is christinekloceklim.com.

Reviews

[Brigita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully suspenseful YA novel that tackles not only such topics as special skills, bio engineering, and abuse of science, but also themes close to any reader, adult or young adult, like themes of family, friendship, love, belonging.

This novel is easy to read in one sitting as it pulls you in from the first pages and doesn’t let go to the very last surprise in the Epilogue. The relationship between the two main characters, Emily and Jax, is marvellously dynamic and evolving. Their relationship changes them, changes their view of life. It helps them find the strength to search for the reasons behind their special skills. That secret, in turn, is the basis for the intense, action-packed plot that doesn’t disappoint with twists and turns and surprising revelations.

Emily’s struggle to find her place, to belong, is something many young adult readers will be able to identify with. She is different, but only on the surface, deep down she’s searching for parental love and guidance, for friendship that she finds in her roommate, for love that comes along in the form of Jax, a boy with skills similar to her own and even bigger problems. When they are being mercilessly hunted, attacked, and even kidnapped, they come to realize that friendship can give you strength, and that family is not always who you’re related to.

[Madison ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a book in one sitting. Honestly, this is the only book I can think of that I read in one sitting. Awesome book. I mean sure, it's only about 200 pages, but I still read it in one sitting.

Okay! So let's start with over-all impressions.
1.) Awesome book!
2.) I've never actually read a book where the main character can manipulate matter, so that was a fun, new plot to discover.
3.) Holy shuck Jax marry me.

Disintegrate starts of with our main character Emily outside in the rain. She just snuck out and is in the city, when she hears someone singing in a bar. So, of course, she sneaks in and finds out who is singing. Turns out, that person is no other than Jax. They flirt/talk and find soon find out that they both have this certain ability for matter manipulation. And that's really where the plot takes off.

Pacing in this book was good. I was never bored. The most interesting things weren't happening on every page, but it was still enough to keep me reading.

So, pacing and plot were both fabulous. Now for characters!

Firstly, we've got Emily. And guess what? She only annoyed me a little bit! That is amazing, my dear Christine Klocek-Lim. It's hard for me to be impressed by a female character, but Emily was awesome! I want to meet her and be her friend. She has her strong and weak points, just like any other person would. She's somewhat awkward and funny and smart and brave, and that's what I like about her. Jax, well, is Jax. He's cute, adorable, somewhat short-tempered, and hot. Wow, great description. He's a good character. Helpful, smart, brave, hot, awesome, funny, hot. Okay, enough about them. The other characters were all awesome. I'm just going to say it: There was a character named Niall, and I love him only because of the One Direction name. There weren't that many side characters, actually. Which I'm perfectly okay with. The ones that were there were cool and not stupid.

So, pacing, plot, and characters were fabulous.

There are a couple of cons, but those really don't matter. I wouldn't even call them cons, just things to look out for.
1.) Again, not really calling this a con, but just know that "Yeah, okay." was said about ninety thousand times in the book. (And by ninety thousand, I mean about five.)
2.) For me, this is a con, because I am just not comfortable reading curse words every three lines. So, yes, the book has curse words. Not an overly excessive amount or anything. But I feel the need to warn anyone who is younger or uncomfortable towards them.
3.) There are a few typos. Like, near the end the author called Jax Jasper a few times. Not sure if she meant to. I mean, Jax could be a nickname for Jasper, I guess. Also, that may just be my copy (it was around 82% finished). I'm not sure.

Here are some things I really loved about this book:
1.) The characters, plot, and pacing. But you already knew that.
2.) Whenever something got intense, she changed the writing style a bit. She did something like this: (Note: These aren't actual words, just things I made up for the sake of showing what she did)
"Emily saw the lights suddenly shut off and called Jax's name, desperate to find someone. She thought she heard Jax and then--
" Someone grabbed her from behind. She screamed, trying to get them off of her when--
"The lights flashed on."
So, if that doesn't make sense, basically she ended every paragraph with a hypen. I thought that was cool and added to the intensity of the story.
3.) Third person POV. That may not be cool to some people, but to me it is because I feel like we don't get enough third person POV's. Maybe that's just me.
4.) The romance between Jax and Emily. I personally feel like they are better as best friends than lovers, but oh well. They were still cute together. They both care so much about each other and they hardly know each other! Some might find that unrealistic, (which it kind of is) but I also think it's very sweet. They have their cheesy moments, but I found them adorable, not annoying. So go Jax and Emily!

So, let's sum it all up:
Disintegrate by Christine Klocek-Lim was absolutely amazing. I don't know what I was expecting when I opened the book. I was probably expecting another over-used plot for YA. But I got a fun, original plot that was incredibly interesting to read about. I loved the characters, plot, pacing, writing style, and Jax. The concept is neat, also, in case you were wondering.

Also, Ms. Klocek-Lim better right a sequel, because I need to know what happens next.

So cheers to another great book.

(And another hot dude to add to the list.)

(AND another year of waiting for a sequel.)

[Liz at Fictional Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disintegrate is the story of Emily, and her life after she meets Jax. Emily is a bit different from most teens. For one, she’s in college and she’s only seventeen. Oh, and two, she has special abilities. Yep. She can warp physical matter. Pretty cool, right? It’s actually pretty neat, watching her as she warps something, and then swipes her hand back over it to bring it to its original state. And as the story goes on, her powers grow. I really enjoyed watching her evolve into something a little bit more badass than when she first started out.

But one night, while out for a bit, she feels compelled to go into this hole in the wall bar. She even has to beg the bouncer to just let her in, since she is underage. But she knows she has to get in, she’s just drawn to it and a voice she hears singing from outside. And when she gets in she sees him. Jax. And he sees her. And the two of them are drawn together. When he finishes his set he’s on his way over to introduce himself to her. Jax is sexy, with his fabulous voice and guitar playing. I instantly like him. And then he turns out to be caring and sensitive, and it just makes me like him even more.

The story itself was pretty easy and enjoyable, for the most part. I really liked Emily and Jax, their growing relationship was nice and comfortable. And when it comes out and they both discover they both have the ability to manipulate matter, I’m so happy for them! They’ve felt alone their whole lives, independently. And now they have each other to confide in and lean on. And everyone needs that in their lives.

But it isn’t long before everything goes to hell for them, and they are being hunted by some bad guys, mercenaries of some sort. From here on out, while I still enjoyed the story very much, I had some trouble with it. I felt like it was kind of missing some back story, to help fill in some gaps. I would have also really liked some more detail, to help flesh it all out some more. There were definite times where it felt like it was jumping from scene to scene without a clear path in the middle, and moved a bit too fast for my tastes.

But even lacking the detail I was looking for, the ultimate storyline was pretty interesting; lots of drama and action. As time went on and they were on the run, I didn’t really continue to feel as invested in them though. It just kind of lost it for me, and that was a bit disappointing. All in all, it was a good story, but lacked the whatever it is that I wanted to see to just reach out and grab me.

[Marcus Damanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISINTEGRATE, by Christine Klocek-Lim, is a young adult sci-fi thriller, rife with dramatic punch, dashed with mad scientist furor, then stirred up in a crockpot of government conspiracy—with a dose of superhero origin story thrown in, too. And then there’s the romance.
Emily and Jax are a couple college kids who are, in different ways, running from their past before the action even starts. Emily knows she is exceptional but she doesn’t know why. Her father is gone—or dead—and her mother is lost in a descent into substance abuse and depression. She’s found a friend and a roommate at school, but no answers … until she meets Jax. And, really, if I were to say anything more about him right here, that would be telling. Let’s just say that Jax is surprising, a character who unfolds with the plot, even as Emily wrestles with her love for him and her default mistrust of the whole universe and just about everyone in it.
The magic of this book is that, once Emily and Jax have moved on from timid flirting—that is to say, timid on Emily’s part; Jax has the flirtatious energy of a small dog on a Monster energy drink—to an actual date, the story pretty much explodes into continuous action. Everything past that point is revealed on the rumbling train-without-brakes that this story becomes: character development, plot twists, backstory—all of it happens while the reader is holding onto this book with one hand and trying not to fall off of it.
DISINTEGRATE is a cross-genre book that would appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. There’s some gritty subject matter here. Klocek-Lim does not needlessly reel back or censor herself for the young adult audience, and the protagonists of this book don’t reign in their language for the benefit of readers who actually hear worse than that walking down the halls at their real-life high schools. The characters are both fantastical and authentic—flawed, rather innocent in a sort of dirt-smudged go-to-hell kind of way, and heroic.
The ending has a nice little bow wrapping it up, too—a connection to a critical symbol early in the book. But that bow is just a little … loose—leaving the possibility for more of this tale to be told.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disintegrate is a thoughtful, sensitive YA book that will appeal to any teenager who's going through those growing pains that we've all felt. Loneliness. Relationship anxiety. Attracting attention from faceless enemies that want to use you as a lab rat. You know, the usual.

I loved Disintegrate! It's written with a quiet, subtle voice that pulls you in. From the first page, you feel like Emily is a friend you've known for years, with a secret that she's only just begun to confide in you. Her ability to rearrange matter amazes us but it's such a part of her that it's inseparable, which only pulls us in closer -- unlike most superheroes, it makes her more human, not less.

Her relationship with Jax is awkward, funny, cool and a powder keg, all those things that drove me nuts back when I was a teenager. The suspense is tight. Every time you think it can't go higher, it does.

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emily meets Jax, there seems to be an instant attraction. This is just the beginning of an adventure heavy on romance and danger. Emily is hoping she’s going to have a normal existence as a seventeen-year-old in college, but that’s not what life has in store for her.

Emily has the ability to change matter. Jax also has super powers. Although it’s a secret from many, there are others who know about this. The two of them, along with their parents, have been involved with scientific experiments. These experiments have cost their parents their lives. Now Jax and Emily are on the run from dangerous people who want to capture them.

This book is a fast read. There are many twists and turns since the majority of the novel has Emily and Jax out on the road evading bad guys, as well as learning about their pasts and their abilities. When the book ended I wanted to keep reading. Emily and Jax really grew on me.

[Shawna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see a lot of potential in this story. However it is in desperate need of an editor. I spent a lot of time being confused. Things felt so disjointed, one minute they're at his grandfather's, the next she's back in her dorm room. Which would be ok, as long as it was better explained why the sudden transition. Or even if it only occurred once, but the chapter transitions don't flow. The writting seems very surface like.

The book did suck me in at first, and the story certainly has a lot of potential, as it is fairly unique. But the lack of depth to the story, and lack of explanation does not keep the reader engaged. I think if the author would take what she's written, and develop it a bit more, expand with more detail on what's happening, as well as working at building the world a bit better, this could certainly be a good read.

[Dani C. (Polly's Place) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mix between X-Men and the move Push (starring Dakota Fanning), Disintegrate takes us on a journey of two young adult who have mysterious powers. Where these unique powers come from and the unexplained death of their parents is just part of the strange adventure these two face in the coming days.

This was a decent plot with one twist that I was not expecting. There were a few times it was a bit cheesy but not enough to really annoy me. A pretty fast read, I think this would be a book enjoyed by young YA readers except for the fact it does have several cuss words in it.

[Jezebel Jorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disintegrate is a fast paced and well plotted story that any avid YA reader is sure to enjoy. Emily is different with her unique powers, yet so different as to yank you out of the story into the unbelievable. Jax is a lot more like Emily than she first realizes. Together, they set out to learn the whys of their paranormal gift and how to embrace the thing that sets them apart from just about everyone else.

This would make a great summer time read of a girl just graduating from high school and enjoying her last summer of freedom before heading off to college.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This must have been an unedited advanced copy because, close to the end of the novel, the author accidentally switches one of the character's names for a few pages. Also, the story jumps a couple of times with no explanation and there are many glaring grammatical errors throughout the book. Aside from that, the story is fairly good and it moves quickly. It would be a good read for a younger teenager, who probably wouldn't notice the inconsistencies in the storyline.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was interesting concept. The characters were a little flat for me at times. I wasn't immediately drawn into their lives and dramas. Sometimes the emotional connections felt rushed. The story was fast paced and well written. I thought it was pretty good but at times I wanted more from it. I am an X-men fan so I liked it for that reason. Very Kitty Pryde or the Tomorrow People.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of action and non stop suspense, Disintegrate was an intense read.

This short read kept me entertained and left me wanting to read more. The only thing I found confusing was toward the end of the book, Jaxs' name became Jasper and then went back to Jax. Overall, I really liked this book and I recommend it to those who like a sci-fi/dystopian type of book.

[Giniro · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was lacking a bit... some explanation and some bumps in the plot. i liked the idea and the descriptions of her powers, but they didn't use them that much at all........... which made teh book kind of boring. the same events kept happening
1. sneak out of some place
2. call roommate
3. some type of vehicle.....

and a lot of passing out.. goodness!.....

[Lynnaurya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. Some things were to be expected. How some of the plot went seemed to be a bit predictable but not enough to completely ruin the whole book. The ending seemed to leave a bit of a question in my mind as to if there is a sequel or if the author is just planning on leaving it up to the reader's imagination.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished another great read! It was well written and I couldn't put it down! And even though there was only 2 mistakes in the whole book, it did not take anything away from the story. I'm convinced nobody will even notice because they will be too wrapped up in what is going on! Love it! Another great find thru first-reads.

[Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good plot, written for the young adult and the young at heart.

[Abby Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting concept. It was an easy beach read. Parts felt rushed, like the romantic storyline and the climax, but it was an enjoyable read. (I won the book from Goodreads FirstReads)