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avadawson08's review
2.0
Had a very slow start - Didn't get interesting until the very end of the book
christajls's review
4.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
When We Wake was a book I was excited for. I mean cryogenetics? Waking up 100 years in the future? A secret government conspiracy? What’s not to like? What I didn’t expect was that it would an incredibly thought provoking and fascinating read that I am still thinking about days later.
The most striking thing about When We Wake is that is holds a pretty realistic vision of the future. This isn’t a dystopian novel where everything seems to have fallen apart. Instead you are presented with all the ways society has improved – our computers are better, Islamaphobia and homophobia have turned into relics of the past, meat is no longer consumed at the same ridiculous rate, we’ve taken steps, like humanure, to improve the environment. Like Tegan I was pretty excited to see that so many things had changed for the better. And Karen Healey backs up this vision of the future by surrounding Tegan with a cast of racially and sexually diverse characters.
However, the future is no utopia either. Over population is still a concern. There is some pretty extreme discrimination against third world countries and refugees are shoved into camps with horrible conditions at the Australian border. The future it seems is just as disappointing as it is miraculous. Which is kind of what it’s like today. We presently make great advances in science, technology and policy, but there are always negatives as well – school shootings, terrorist attacks etc. There’s this really moving moment in When We Wake where Tegan says “”I wanted you to be better. You should be better.” And it’s true. 100 years from now we should be better. But I liked that Karen Healey provided us with the same sort of “give and take” society as we have now – just amped up a couple notches. Because in all honestly that’s the most likely scenario.
I also really liked the way Karen Healey made use of the group the “Inheritors of the Earth.” A group with religious origins they argue for a return to the traditional ways. I liked that she used this group as a representation of the ways religion can get a little…extreme. But she also didn’t present them as evil per say, and took the time to note that groups like this have often twisted the original teachings of the faith they originated from. They shouldn’t be seen as universal representatives. (For example when people think creationists = all Christians. So annoying).
It helps of course that at the heart of this story was an extremely likable narrator. Tegan is interesting, she’s independent, she loves the Beatles and she’s a fish out of water. She’s as new to this future as you are as the reader. Which means you can learn along with her, rather than having to read long explanations to set the scene. And I loved the breaks in the main narrative where Tegan is talking directly to you – her reader/viewer. It made When We Wake a much more personal read giving it a stronger impact.
This is the beginning of a series and I am excited to see what’s next for Tegan. But I also kind of liked the ending the way it is. It’s so open ended and allows for so much discussion about many important issues.
Recommendation: When We Wake is a really smart book. It addresses so many interesting issues like the ethics of cryogenics, responsibility to other nations, expectations on our government to tell us the truth and so many more. It’s exciting and interesting and filled with Beatles references. Highly recommended for science fiction fans and those who love to discuss the books they read.
When We Wake was a book I was excited for. I mean cryogenetics? Waking up 100 years in the future? A secret government conspiracy? What’s not to like? What I didn’t expect was that it would an incredibly thought provoking and fascinating read that I am still thinking about days later.
The most striking thing about When We Wake is that is holds a pretty realistic vision of the future. This isn’t a dystopian novel where everything seems to have fallen apart. Instead you are presented with all the ways society has improved – our computers are better, Islamaphobia and homophobia have turned into relics of the past, meat is no longer consumed at the same ridiculous rate, we’ve taken steps, like humanure, to improve the environment. Like Tegan I was pretty excited to see that so many things had changed for the better. And Karen Healey backs up this vision of the future by surrounding Tegan with a cast of racially and sexually diverse characters.
However, the future is no utopia either. Over population is still a concern. There is some pretty extreme discrimination against third world countries and refugees are shoved into camps with horrible conditions at the Australian border. The future it seems is just as disappointing as it is miraculous. Which is kind of what it’s like today. We presently make great advances in science, technology and policy, but there are always negatives as well – school shootings, terrorist attacks etc. There’s this really moving moment in When We Wake where Tegan says “”I wanted you to be better. You should be better.” And it’s true. 100 years from now we should be better. But I liked that Karen Healey provided us with the same sort of “give and take” society as we have now – just amped up a couple notches. Because in all honestly that’s the most likely scenario.
I also really liked the way Karen Healey made use of the group the “Inheritors of the Earth.” A group with religious origins they argue for a return to the traditional ways. I liked that she used this group as a representation of the ways religion can get a little…extreme. But she also didn’t present them as evil per say, and took the time to note that groups like this have often twisted the original teachings of the faith they originated from. They shouldn’t be seen as universal representatives. (For example when people think creationists = all Christians. So annoying).
It helps of course that at the heart of this story was an extremely likable narrator. Tegan is interesting, she’s independent, she loves the Beatles and she’s a fish out of water. She’s as new to this future as you are as the reader. Which means you can learn along with her, rather than having to read long explanations to set the scene. And I loved the breaks in the main narrative where Tegan is talking directly to you – her reader/viewer. It made When We Wake a much more personal read giving it a stronger impact.
This is the beginning of a series and I am excited to see what’s next for Tegan. But I also kind of liked the ending the way it is. It’s so open ended and allows for so much discussion about many important issues.
Recommendation: When We Wake is a really smart book. It addresses so many interesting issues like the ethics of cryogenics, responsibility to other nations, expectations on our government to tell us the truth and so many more. It’s exciting and interesting and filled with Beatles references. Highly recommended for science fiction fans and those who love to discuss the books they read.
dpukansky's review
4.0
I couldn't put this book down! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I never realized how much I enjoy science fiction novels until I am reading one again and want more and more.
Healy did an excellent job of narrating the novel in Teegan's point of view. I was confused at first because I did not realize that the story was flipping between past and present as Teegan was on the run, so I would want to point that out to anyone preparing to read the book. It was fast paced and it addressed a lot of political issues throughout the novel which I believed to be important, but I also found that it could be distracting at times. It would be interesting to use this novel while talking about ideas of a Utopian society as well between the Inheritors of the Earth and the New Australia and what the each wanted/achieved.
The story of Teegan was one of action and adventure as she is forced to acclimate to a future that she never realized/wanted to be a part of. She meets characters that help her along the way and she finds comfort in them and the way that they resemble her friends from the past. I believe that teens would enjoy this book as I know I had and I plan on purchasing the next one in the series so that I can continue to follow Teegan and Abdi.
Healy did an excellent job of narrating the novel in Teegan's point of view. I was confused at first because I did not realize that the story was flipping between past and present as Teegan was on the run, so I would want to point that out to anyone preparing to read the book. It was fast paced and it addressed a lot of political issues throughout the novel which I believed to be important, but I also found that it could be distracting at times. It would be interesting to use this novel while talking about ideas of a Utopian society as well between the Inheritors of the Earth and the New Australia and what the each wanted/achieved.
The story of Teegan was one of action and adventure as she is forced to acclimate to a future that she never realized/wanted to be a part of. She meets characters that help her along the way and she finds comfort in them and the way that they resemble her friends from the past. I believe that teens would enjoy this book as I know I had and I plan on purchasing the next one in the series so that I can continue to follow Teegan and Abdi.
lrnunez's review
4.0
I actually thought I wasn't going to like this book, but I was surprised by how much I liked it. It reminded me of a possible prequel to the book series across the universe. Over all a pretty good read, not too literature advanced but well written and a great ending with an interesting plot line. I kind of wanted more personality from Abdi though and wanted some more co character participation.
cambech14's review
2.0
The plot was weak and there was nothing truly special or shocking about this future. It was especially weak when Teegan gave that interview (which I guess was the climax?) and the government suddenly was going to lock her away? After spending all the money on reviving a teenager they’d hide her? I think not. It didn’t seem plausible. And the random religious cult and Teegan being pro-religion and pro-army. It was weird and felt propaganda-ish. The book just wasn’t enough.
rose_d's review
3.0
Also posted on iamaloserkidreviews.blogspot.com
***
Since Science Fiction and me usually don't go together very well, I was a bit wary of the book. The cover is amazing and was the thing that drew me to it and the blurb sounds cool. And that was what the story was: it was pretty cool. But it didn't convince me all the way and there were some things that annoyed me. But that's the thing with science fiction (and also with fantasy): it is all completely made up, so how someone imagines the future can be completely different from what I imagine the future to be.
The story is about Tegan who lives in 2027, not too far from now. One day she's protesting with her friends and is near the prime minister when a sniper (who apparently has never shot a gun before, because seriously, how can you shoot a sixteen year old girl instead of the prime minister?), accidentally shoots Tegan instead of the prime minister. So Tegan dies. Or does she? She wakes up a hundred years later. She gave her body to science and they froze her, only to bring her back to life again.
The future is quite horrible. The world is pretty much dying and Australia, where Tegan is from, turned into quite a horrible country. There is a very strict no immigration policy and people who do try to get to Australia get put into camps. And there are so many other things going on with the world.
In the beginning Tegan find it quite difficult to adapt to the situation and the era she's living in. Slang has changed (and o my god, the writer was probably laughing while coming up with some of these words), technology has advanced and she misses her friends who, from what it felt like, she hang out with only a couple days ago. She eventually gets some new friends though, but not everyone is a fan of her.
She starts to get known as the Living Dead Girl and everyone wants to interview her. There are also parties that would rather want her dead, since they think her soul is dead anyway. And then there's the whole 'why do they really want to bring people back to life?' thing. All in all, it is quite an energetic read with some thriller and myster aspects. And of course romance. Because who doesn't want romance when there is already so much going on (not me, really. They could as well have left that out.). I think it was a good, interesting read, but nothing spectacular.
***
Since Science Fiction and me usually don't go together very well, I was a bit wary of the book. The cover is amazing and was the thing that drew me to it and the blurb sounds cool. And that was what the story was: it was pretty cool. But it didn't convince me all the way and there were some things that annoyed me. But that's the thing with science fiction (and also with fantasy): it is all completely made up, so how someone imagines the future can be completely different from what I imagine the future to be.
The story is about Tegan who lives in 2027, not too far from now. One day she's protesting with her friends and is near the prime minister when a sniper (who apparently has never shot a gun before, because seriously, how can you shoot a sixteen year old girl instead of the prime minister?), accidentally shoots Tegan instead of the prime minister. So Tegan dies. Or does she? She wakes up a hundred years later. She gave her body to science and they froze her, only to bring her back to life again.
The future is quite horrible. The world is pretty much dying and Australia, where Tegan is from, turned into quite a horrible country. There is a very strict no immigration policy and people who do try to get to Australia get put into camps. And there are so many other things going on with the world.
In the beginning Tegan find it quite difficult to adapt to the situation and the era she's living in. Slang has changed (and o my god, the writer was probably laughing while coming up with some of these words), technology has advanced and she misses her friends who, from what it felt like, she hang out with only a couple days ago. She eventually gets some new friends though, but not everyone is a fan of her.
She starts to get known as the Living Dead Girl and everyone wants to interview her. There are also parties that would rather want her dead, since they think her soul is dead anyway. And then there's the whole 'why do they really want to bring people back to life?' thing. All in all, it is quite an energetic read with some thriller and myster aspects. And of course romance. Because who doesn't want romance when there is already so much going on (not me, really. They could as well have left that out.). I think it was a good, interesting read, but nothing spectacular.
siavahda's review
5.0
Epic, saving-the-day lesbian and transgendered characters. PoCs. A complete lack of black and white morality. Humans being humans. Believable future. Healey gets ALL THE WIN for this one!