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kathryn_719's review
3.0
Was a very well written book but needed more of a plot line did not find myself drawn into the book and wanting to read more.
agtcm1221's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
alittledizzy's review
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zetafiction's review
3.0
Lawson's prose is lovely, but there's a remove or a maturity to it that doesn't quite mesh with the YA genre. It doesn't feel like a YA book. In any case, as always, I want to read more of his writing.
nvi's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
taylor_nic0le's review
4.0
This story was a good story, but not AMAZING. The flashbacks between the past and the present were done so seamlessly, and I was invested in essentially all the characters. Even the secondary ones. It’s very well written and I think the author captures the character emotions and situation they’re all in very well.
littlemissbookworm's review
3.0
"All We Can Do Is Wait" tells the heart-breaking story of a tragic accident and its aftermath.
One moment there was a bridge spanning the river and the next, there wasn't. The news of the tragedy spreads like wildfire and worried Bostonians rush to the hospital to find out if their loved ones made it out alive. In their midst, there are Skyler, Jason, Alexa, Scott and Morgan - five teenagers who've never met before, but are united in their sorrow. Short of being a shoulder to cry on for each other, there's nothing they can do. All they can do is wait...
I really like the premise of this book and the prologue gripped me almost instantaneously. Unfortunately, Richard Lawson wasn't able to keep that level of suspense for very long. Don't get me wrong, "All We Can Do Is Wait" is a good book with a nerve-wracking plot, but the over-use of lengthy flashbacks slows it down quite a bit. Flashbacks in general are great in order to get to know the characters better, but shorter ones would have sufficed and not taken away from the suspense as much.
The characters themselves are diverse and interesting and I like that each of them has their own "voice".
I recommend this novel to teenagers as well as adults, who enjoy reading tragic stories à la "54 minutes" and "Girl Underwater".
One moment there was a bridge spanning the river and the next, there wasn't. The news of the tragedy spreads like wildfire and worried Bostonians rush to the hospital to find out if their loved ones made it out alive. In their midst, there are Skyler, Jason, Alexa, Scott and Morgan - five teenagers who've never met before, but are united in their sorrow. Short of being a shoulder to cry on for each other, there's nothing they can do. All they can do is wait...
I really like the premise of this book and the prologue gripped me almost instantaneously. Unfortunately, Richard Lawson wasn't able to keep that level of suspense for very long. Don't get me wrong, "All We Can Do Is Wait" is a good book with a nerve-wracking plot, but the over-use of lengthy flashbacks slows it down quite a bit. Flashbacks in general are great in order to get to know the characters better, but shorter ones would have sufficed and not taken away from the suspense as much.
The characters themselves are diverse and interesting and I like that each of them has their own "voice".
I recommend this novel to teenagers as well as adults, who enjoy reading tragic stories à la "54 minutes" and "Girl Underwater".
catie0537's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
zoot's review
3.0
Interesting concept/style of story telling but I'm not sure the quality was there to support it. Felt a little flat.
heathershectichideaway's review
5.0
I found this book on my library’s website and without reading the entire synopsis I picked it up. This book takes place in Boston where a group of people become trapped in the Boston General Hospital. During the entire novel you get to know a group of teenagers from their points of view. I felt as if it was marketed as an adult novel but, it definitely could be read by any age group. This book was beautiful all the way around and it could easily be my favorite book of the year!