Revived by Cat Patrick

I read Cat Patrick's Forgotten a while ago before my Dad's heart attack. Then, I was gone and didn't have a chance to write a review for it. After this much time, I couldn't write a review that would do it justice, but I do know that I enjoyed it. It was my enjoyment of Forgotten that led me to her newest book, Revived. I was a little hesitant to read Revived, because I was unsure about the topic of bringing people back to life, but I was very impressed by Miz Patrick's creativity in Forgotten so decided to give Revived a shot. Instead of reading it, I decided to experience this one as an audiobook.

Here's the summary from Goodreads: As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger -- and more sinister -- than she ever imagined.

What I Liked: 1) Daisy. As an MC, Daisy was incredibly personable and really came alive on the page. Her history was thoroughly explained and her actions and personality melded nicely. She is a great example of character development done well, and I loved watching her grow throughout the story and learn more about what her life really was about. 2) Audrey. What a refreshingly optimistic and charismatic person. We didn't get to know Audrey as well as some of the other characters, but she brought a smile to my face every time she entered a scene. While she is a secondary character, her influence on the other characters is strong and she will stay with you long after you close the book. 3) The concept. A drug tested on a group of kids that brought them back to life. Literally, they were dead, and it REVIVED them (duh). There are all kinds of rules and regulations to how and when the drug will work though, so it's pretty interesting to see how it all works. Also, the fact that this was a government sponsored program makes it even more complicated in how it all works. 4) Morality. This is where it gets a little sketchy, because morality, such as the decision of who lives and who dies, is wrapped up in religion to some and science to others (and crime and politics, I guess.) I loved the way that Miz Patrick handled the question of morality in this though. Religion was a bigger factor in the story than I initially realized it was going to when I realized that all of the people in the project had nicknames, including the creator of the drug whom Daisy, Mason, and the others involved in the project simply called "God." It wasn't meant disparagingly at all, but instead highlighted a strong morality issue. I loved this. 5) The message at the end of the story was a great one about love, loss, and moving on. If this was the intended message from the very beginning, major kudos to Miz Patrick on delivering it in a creative, fun, and unique way.

What I Didn't Like: I loved it all!

Overall Thoughts: I think everyone should check out this book. Not only is it completely unique with wonderful, personable characters who end up feeling like friends, but it ends with a beautiful and sustaining message that everyone can take to heart. Revived is going down as one of my favorite books!

 My Rating: 5 shots

PS, I'm hoping to be heading back from New Mexico today, so I should be back in Texas sometime late tonight! Hooray! Also, Happy Last Day of August! Autumn is just around the corner!