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btpbookclub's review
4.0
This was one off my library pile, highly recommended by fellow readers and my first buddy read of the year with Mel from Melanie’s reads (link to her blog below the review). What a book! It’s a hard one to review…
It is about a school shooting and for a change it’s not in the US, it’s in the UK! Putting myself into those childrens and teachers shoes was terrifying. The stuff of nightmares. Petrifying. Especially for Basi and Rafi. My heart broke of it all. Some some can be so cruel, twisted and sick.
This book had me gasping for breathe. My heart was pounding. I was scared for the characters, sat on the edge of my seat. Tense. Gripping. Thrilling. It’s one of those books that you’re so into you could hear a pin drop. You’re their with the characters every step. You just want to scream at the gunmen and tell the characters what to do.
Three hours makes you realise just how powerful time is. Whether it’s three hours. An hour. Or even 10 minutes. A lot can change your life in that time. It also gave the message that love prevails all and I totally agree with that. A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
It is about a school shooting and for a change it’s not in the US, it’s in the UK! Putting myself into those childrens and teachers shoes was terrifying. The stuff of nightmares. Petrifying. Especially for Basi and Rafi. My heart broke of it all. Some some can be so cruel, twisted and sick.
This book had me gasping for breathe. My heart was pounding. I was scared for the characters, sat on the edge of my seat. Tense. Gripping. Thrilling. It’s one of those books that you’re so into you could hear a pin drop. You’re their with the characters every step. You just want to scream at the gunmen and tell the characters what to do.
Three hours makes you realise just how powerful time is. Whether it’s three hours. An hour. Or even 10 minutes. A lot can change your life in that time. It also gave the message that love prevails all and I totally agree with that. A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
laurajh77's review
4.0
This took a while to get going, for me. I think it felt a bit too much of a stretch at times. The thing is, the UK is so tight on gun control, access to chemicals and bomb paraphernalia, kids blabbing… I struggled to believe that it could actually come off in the way that it did. Add in that the setting for me was very familiar, having grown up in Somerset and attending a rural school, there was too much belief needing to be suspended. I also don’t think for a moment that most teens would be able to hold it together like these did, and why the heck weren’t their phones all fully charged overnight? At 9am my kids are on 90% or higher still! Far more likely they wouldn’t have reception out in the woods and I do think a power cut in the storm would have been more realistic tbh.
That said, I did enjoy it, and as the pace picked up I wanted to know what would happen. I’ve read worse.
That said, I did enjoy it, and as the pace picked up I wanted to know what would happen. I’ve read worse.
kazza27's review
5.0
Thank you to Ellie Hudson from Penguin Random House for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.
It is safe to say I have never read a book that made me so on edge. The tension that the author portrays through the writing and the narrators is at times unbearable.
Hannah and Rafi two of the central characters show bravery and reminded me of the everyday heroes that so often are selfless in horrific situations like this one and it it was truly moving. The love Rafi has for Basi his little brother was beautiful and their back stories were so poignant and a reminder of how much refugees experience before they have a safe place.
I think the parts I found the hardest to read were inevitably the story of the gunmen. It was frightening and unnerving how this happened. Without giving away too much away, how the normalisation of the vile language used by some in the media and social media when talking about fellow human beings who need help.
The realisation of who is behind the attacks left me speechless.
An outstanding read that made me feel so many emotions, fear for the children, teachers and parents, anger at the injustice of two young boys who have already suffered so much having to endure more.
Also I was in awe at the bravery of the characters Rafi, Hannah and Matthew the headteacher and all the teachers who are just wonderful at keeping all the children distracted and calm in an horrific situation.
I loved how the story of Macbeth was also woven in to the events. There are heart-breaking and heart stopping moments which left me very emotional and at times shocked.
I think this book will stay with me for a long time and I feel very lucky to be able to review it. Although it is definitely a book that everyone should read as I feel my review will never convey all I want it too.
It is safe to say I have never read a book that made me so on edge. The tension that the author portrays through the writing and the narrators is at times unbearable.
Hannah and Rafi two of the central characters show bravery and reminded me of the everyday heroes that so often are selfless in horrific situations like this one and it it was truly moving. The love Rafi has for Basi his little brother was beautiful and their back stories were so poignant and a reminder of how much refugees experience before they have a safe place.
I think the parts I found the hardest to read were inevitably the story of the gunmen. It was frightening and unnerving how this happened. Without giving away too much away, how the normalisation of the vile language used by some in the media and social media when talking about fellow human beings who need help.
The realisation of who is behind the attacks left me speechless.
An outstanding read that made me feel so many emotions, fear for the children, teachers and parents, anger at the injustice of two young boys who have already suffered so much having to endure more.
Also I was in awe at the bravery of the characters Rafi, Hannah and Matthew the headteacher and all the teachers who are just wonderful at keeping all the children distracted and calm in an horrific situation.
I loved how the story of Macbeth was also woven in to the events. There are heart-breaking and heart stopping moments which left me very emotional and at times shocked.
I think this book will stay with me for a long time and I feel very lucky to be able to review it. Although it is definitely a book that everyone should read as I feel my review will never convey all I want it too.
megancrusante's review
4.0
3.5 because the “twist” (not really a twist I guess but not wanting to spoil in any way) could have been more powerful if not laid out so early. Also I hate giving good ratings to things about school shootings(!!!!) but this was well done.
wkilgannon's review
5.0
If I could give this more stars I would. I spent the entire time I was reading the book with my heart in my mouth and a feeling a nausea, mainly at the theme of the story. A school under siege, the teachers and pupils barricading themselves in classrooms, the library, the theatre. The headteacher injured and unable to protect the children in his care.
Tightly written, with excellent pace, Lupton perfectly captures the viewpoints of all the narrators - their fear and confusion. From the injured headmaster, the liberal drama teacher, the teenagers trapped, the mother whose child is missing, the Syrian refugee and the police psychologist you can feel each character’s perspective.
The subject matter is tough reading for a parent, but worth it to see how Lupton captures the very best (and worst) of human spirit and courage.
Tightly written, with excellent pace, Lupton perfectly captures the viewpoints of all the narrators - their fear and confusion. From the injured headmaster, the liberal drama teacher, the teenagers trapped, the mother whose child is missing, the Syrian refugee and the police psychologist you can feel each character’s perspective.
The subject matter is tough reading for a parent, but worth it to see how Lupton captures the very best (and worst) of human spirit and courage.
paulbutler74's review
Just too slow with plot too many characters to keep on track of .
georgilvsbooks's review
3.0
This did sound amazing when reading the blurb, I thought I would love it.
However, I just thought it was an ok read.
I found it confusing to start with, trying to figure out who’s part/chapter was there’s.
It was also easy to guess for me who was bad in the story.
It just didn’t grab my attention or excite me very much.
However, I just thought it was an ok read.
I found it confusing to start with, trying to figure out who’s part/chapter was there’s.
It was also easy to guess for me who was bad in the story.
It just didn’t grab my attention or excite me very much.
gemlobz's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jasje2000's review against another edition
4.0
Het meest interessante aan dit boek vond ik dat het zich niet heel erg focust op de gebeurtenissen van de school shooters, maar met name op de reactie van de mensen eromheen. Ik vind dat er heel mooi beschreven wordt hoe snel je in zo'n situatie je medemens kan gaan wantrouwen en hoe je als ouders snel een schuldige wilt aanwijzen, ondanks dat je geen weet hebt van de situatie. Daarbij komt dat de achtergronden van de personages goed worden uitgewerkt, met name de achtergrond van rafi wat een hele extra dimensie aan het boek geeft.