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funsizelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I put this in dystopia and realistic fiction because it's taking a realistic situation to an extreme conclusion. What makes this really good, is that it starts with a plausible, even supportable, reaction to a believable situation (one that's in the news all too often today). But what it turns into is...well...just read it and see...
valhecka's review against another edition
1.0
Managed to make a post-school-shooting world where slowly everyone in a school disappears as the result of a conspiracy to GET RID OF THE CHILDREN...boring. It was just boring.
theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
1.0
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q/videos
One day, while at school, Tom and the rest of his classmates receive phone calls from their parents informing them of a school shooting a few towns over in Pleasant Valley. Dr. Willner, the new grief and crisis counsellor arrives at the school the next day and begins to enforce new rules that the students believe to be ridiculous and unfair. As time goes on and the rules become stricter, kids begin to disappear. As Tom and his friends begin to realize that things may be getting out of hand, it's already too late.
Well... this book was bad. REALLY bad... When I first began the book, I was thinking I was going to get a story about the after math of a school shooting... boy was I wrong. The plot was extremely boring and flimsy. Nothing is believable or even mildly realistic. The concept behind the story was interesting and I think it could have made for a very cool story, it just was not executed well. The characters were all bland. The actions that the characters took and the thought processes they had were so unrealistic and overly stupid that it just made me roll my eyes half the time. The main character Tom frustrated the HECK out of me. The supporting characters were equally as annoying. All of the dialogue seemed forced and all the characters talked as if they were 12 year olds, even the adults. The book had mild racism and homophobic slurs in it that just made me angry while reading. Not to mention the use of the word 'retarded' as an insult. NOT TO MENTION that the author wrote about a basketball game and then said that it was possible to tie a basketball game... If you are going to include something in your book at least know that it IS NOT POSSIBLE to tie a basketball... like come on lady at least do your research....
One day, while at school, Tom and the rest of his classmates receive phone calls from their parents informing them of a school shooting a few towns over in Pleasant Valley. Dr. Willner, the new grief and crisis counsellor arrives at the school the next day and begins to enforce new rules that the students believe to be ridiculous and unfair. As time goes on and the rules become stricter, kids begin to disappear. As Tom and his friends begin to realize that things may be getting out of hand, it's already too late.
Well... this book was bad. REALLY bad... When I first began the book, I was thinking I was going to get a story about the after math of a school shooting... boy was I wrong. The plot was extremely boring and flimsy. Nothing is believable or even mildly realistic. The concept behind the story was interesting and I think it could have made for a very cool story, it just was not executed well. The characters were all bland. The actions that the characters took and the thought processes they had were so unrealistic and overly stupid that it just made me roll my eyes half the time. The main character Tom frustrated the HECK out of me. The supporting characters were equally as annoying. All of the dialogue seemed forced and all the characters talked as if they were 12 year olds, even the adults. The book had mild racism and homophobic slurs in it that just made me angry while reading. Not to mention the use of the word 'retarded' as an insult. NOT TO MENTION that the author wrote about a basketball game and then said that it was possible to tie a basketball game... If you are going to include something in your book at least know that it IS NOT POSSIBLE to tie a basketball... like come on lady at least do your research....
lennareem's review against another edition
4.0
This book was hard for me to finish only because I was so damn angry the entire time, thinking: why is nobody doing anything?!?
I can see from other reviews that many felt frustrated with the characters' lack of action.
After much deliberation, I think that was exactly the author's point: how little people do in the face of great injustice. This isn't supposed to be a heroic tale, like The Hunger Games; it's the tale of us. Just think: how much injustice do we see in the world everyday? And how much do we do about it? Exactly.
I can see from other reviews that many felt frustrated with the characters' lack of action.
After much deliberation, I think that was exactly the author's point: how little people do in the face of great injustice. This isn't supposed to be a heroic tale, like The Hunger Games; it's the tale of us. Just think: how much injustice do we see in the world everyday? And how much do we do about it? Exactly.
grave_liminal's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
For a better experience, I recommend watching Invasion of the Body Snatchers before reading this book because it is referenced a number of times. However, you don’t have to watch the movie to understand the book. We don’t get much of any character backstory for the friend group, but the plot is good enough to have empathy for them. I would have enjoyed this book more if I was in high school, as that’s the target audience for this book. I was pleasantly surprised upon discovering that the author had enough guts to kill off two members of the friend group.
Though the plot is a bit silly in a way, I feel like the book does talk about an extremely underrepresented and dangerous practice. As per another review I read, this book was written in 2003, only a few years after 9/11 and columbine, which is a time period characterized by school shootings and high security.Those who love true crime podcasts are well aware of wilderness camps/rehabilitation and the horrors that happen within them. I would have never guessed that it would be the focal point of this book and I was grateful to see them have a negative representation in a random fictional book I picked up. It came as a very big and unique surprise.
Though the plot is a bit silly in a way, I feel like the book does talk about an extremely underrepresented and dangerous practice. As per another review I read, this book was written in 2003, only a few years after 9/11 and columbine, which is a time period characterized by school shootings and high security.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Murder
pkadams's review against another edition
2.0
At my daughter's urging I read this book about the eroding of personal liberties after a Columbine-like shooting occurs at a neighboring high school. Narrated by sophomore Tom, it tells the story of how keeping children safe means more and more of giving up individual rights and succumbing to a police state. Children and teachers who disagree mysterious disappear and are sent to camps from which they never return. Although it explores some important ideas of how we as a society manage risk by limiting the actions and freedoms of individuals, the passive nature of the characters and the society in which they live is too unrealistic. The weak plot and character passivity make for an unconvincing story.
falconerreader's review against another edition
3.0
Full review here: http://falconerslibrary.blogspot.com/2015/07/review-after-by-francine-prose.html
The book suffers from lack of a rationale for the bad guys. It also has the same issues that The Giver does, in that the science fiction has an element of magic. How exactly does one use email to brainwash people? If you are looking for a cohesive plot, you will probably find the book frustrating. This is where it pays to think of the book as allegory, rather than speculative fiction. If you can do that, you will find a lot to think about, from how we treat "troubled" teens, to how passive we can be in the face of authority.
The book suffers from lack of a rationale for the bad guys. It also has the same issues that The Giver does, in that the science fiction has an element of magic. How exactly does one use email to brainwash people? If you are looking for a cohesive plot, you will probably find the book frustrating. This is where it pays to think of the book as allegory, rather than speculative fiction. If you can do that, you will find a lot to think about, from how we treat "troubled" teens, to how passive we can be in the face of authority.
bookhoardingvalkyrie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
xxsquigglesxx's review against another edition
4.0
MY REVIEW: I loved every minute of this book. The subject matter is so scary based on the fact that something like this could actually happen, and how easily it would be to accomplish something like this. The only thing that I would say I didn't like was the ending of the book. It seems as though it was left open for the possibility of a sequal, but I don't think it was. Now, if a sequal ever does come out, I'll be the first one there to buy it. Basically, this book is worth your time to read.
delireads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars.
I've read it twice so far. I really enjoy the concept. I think it was executed well. The author needs to learn more words other than "said" it was always he said, she said. It got really annoying quite quickly. I would recommend it for sure.
I've read it twice so far. I really enjoy the concept. I think it was executed well. The author needs to learn more words other than "said" it was always he said, she said. It got really annoying quite quickly. I would recommend it for sure.