Scan barcode
gabizago's review against another edition
4.0
The world is ending and teenagers are the only hope to save the world from total collapse in a heavily political divided scenario? Well, the book premise is kind of weird. But if you forget for a while that the main characters are teenagers, it kind of starts making more sense. I thought the political focus would make the book boring, but it turns out it made it more current. Overall, not a bad story, and it keeps you wanting to read on to know what's going to happen. I'm not waiting for Day One to be released to see what's going to happen next!
alongreader's review against another edition
3.0
Trapped in a never ending series of catastrophes, Jinx and her siblings must rely on her father's prepper training to help get them to safety.
This is an odd one, and difficult to rate. Although on the surface there's nothing wrong with it, it's a perfectly good adventure story, the more I think about it, the more problems appear. For instance, when is it set? Presumably it's some way in the future; cars have autodrive and all the textbooks seem to be on tablets. The American parties have given way to The Opposition and The Spark with no hint of any other options. However, there are still books around, there doesn't seem to be any other especially impressive tech, and Mac needs "several tablets" to handle one class, rather than multitasking as we can nowadays.
I didn't think much of Jinx. Granted, things were going wrong everywhere she turned, but she was disdainful of Mac, who didn't have any of her training, for not reacting well in crisis, and even as her father's training and supplies repeatedly saved her life she was still complaining about them. I actually thought Mac had the better storyline, going from pampered to willing to do whatever it took.
I'll pick up the next book, because it's an interesting storyline and I like that it doesn't (quite) demonise preppers. I hope it clears things up a bit.
This is an odd one, and difficult to rate. Although on the surface there's nothing wrong with it, it's a perfectly good adventure story, the more I think about it, the more problems appear. For instance, when is it set? Presumably it's some way in the future; cars have autodrive and all the textbooks seem to be on tablets. The American parties have given way to The Opposition and The Spark with no hint of any other options. However, there are still books around, there doesn't seem to be any other especially impressive tech, and Mac needs "several tablets" to handle one class, rather than multitasking as we can nowadays.
I didn't think much of Jinx. Granted, things were going wrong everywhere she turned, but she was disdainful of Mac, who didn't have any of her training, for not reacting well in crisis, and even as her father's training and supplies repeatedly saved her life she was still complaining about them. I actually thought Mac had the better storyline, going from pampered to willing to do whatever it took.
I'll pick up the next book, because it's an interesting storyline and I like that it doesn't (quite) demonise preppers. I hope it clears things up a bit.
ttrinityy's review against another edition
3.0
honestly! i have no idea what happened in this book, but i will be reading the second book, which will most likely leave me more confused than this one did!
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This YA dystopian novel starts with a bang (literally) and never lets up on the action and excitement. It's definitely an adrenaline-fueled thriller that will keep readers turning pages (or racing through screens, in my case). The characters are likable, the plot is compelling, and the writing is capable. Yes, there's nothing really fresh or original about it and yes, the get-in-trouble-then-get-rescued-then-get-in-trouble-again cycle gets redundant. Still, this is an engrossing, action-fueled novel that kept me interested throughout. Although its ending is satisfying, I'm still very interested in reading its forthcoming sequel, DAY ONE.
jenlovesbooks's review
4.0
Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the egalley of Kelly deVos’s Day Zero in exchange for an honest review.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going” (loc. 3896).
Day Zero, a near-future YA thriller, launches the reader into a frighteningly familiar world dominated by political conflict between two parties. The Opposition focuses on rugged individualism and oppose taxes on the rich, while The Spark embraces identity politics and using government to seek equality for all and to eradicate poverty. After the New Depression created unrest in the U.S., The Opposition took advantage of citizens’ resentment to elect Ammon Carver to the Presidency, which he won with “money, influence, bigotry and hate” (loc. 941).
In the midst of this world is Susan “Jinx” Marshall, who lives with her mother, a teacher; her stepfather Jay, a security expert at a bank; younger brother Charles; and stepsister Makeeba. Her stepbrother Tyrell, on whom Jinx has a huge crush, is away at school. Jinx’s dad, Dr. Maxwell Marshall, is Dr. Doomsday, a survival expert whose book Dr. Doomsday’s Guide to Ultimate Survival provides advice for how to survive if (when?) an apocalypse hits. Advice from Dr. Doomsday appears throughout Day Zero, reminding us that “Everyone in this world seeks power. Those who will stop at nothing to attain it will also never willingly relinquish it” (loc. 483). He is also friends with Ammon Carver, a fact that drives another wedge between Jinx and Makeeba, a fierce advocate for The Spark and its failed Presidential candidate David Rosenthal.
Jinx is a compelling protagonist. She’s still getting used to her new family and has a truly sisterly relationship—non-stop bickering—with her new step-sister. She is incredibly protective of her little brother Charles, an adorable, eight-year-old herbologist who is diabetic, which has a big impact on events. Jinx’s relationship with her parents is complex: she both wishes they would have stayed together while understanding why her mother left her father, who forced the family to run extreme survival drills that left her disconnected from her peers . . . and society. Jinx is brilliant but often has a better understanding of computers and the virtual world than she does of the people around her. Each person in her family pulls or pushes Jinx in a different direction, and her reactions to each reveal a new facet of her identity. Terminus, Jinx’s best friend and her father’s protege, who she knows only virtually, and the mysterious and handsome Gustavo Navarro, who also knows her father, provide additional complexity as we come to understand Jinx.
DeVos creates a clear, distinct, and well-developed world within a chapter or two and then sets off a series of explosions that changes everything. Jinx, Makeeba, and Charles escape because of Dr. Marshall’s survival training and then return to a home in chaos to find that Jinx’s stepfather has been accused of being part of a conspiracy against the government. As she tries to keep her family together, Jinx must deal with a shifting understanding of who to trust. Pursued by agents of The Opposition, Jinx and her family work through one challenge after another, striving both to survive and for something more, to act morally as they come to understand the roots of an insidious and power-hungry corruption that goes deeper than they initially understand.
Day Zero strikes the balance between the personal and the political beautifully, reflecting the tension that dominates Jinx’s own life. The secondary characters work well to help the reader understand Jinx: her maturity, the moments when she falls into a natural self-interest, and her conflicted loyalties. I thoroughly enjoyed both the adventure-packed plot and deVos’s attention to deeper political and psychological issues. Watching the way these characters react to the changing society provided insight into the world of the book and—as the best books do—raised fascinating questions about our own world. I thoroughly enjoyed Day Zero and look forward to Kelly deVos’s conclusion to this duology.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going” (loc. 3896).
Day Zero, a near-future YA thriller, launches the reader into a frighteningly familiar world dominated by political conflict between two parties. The Opposition focuses on rugged individualism and oppose taxes on the rich, while The Spark embraces identity politics and using government to seek equality for all and to eradicate poverty. After the New Depression created unrest in the U.S., The Opposition took advantage of citizens’ resentment to elect Ammon Carver to the Presidency, which he won with “money, influence, bigotry and hate” (loc. 941).
In the midst of this world is Susan “Jinx” Marshall, who lives with her mother, a teacher; her stepfather Jay, a security expert at a bank; younger brother Charles; and stepsister Makeeba. Her stepbrother Tyrell, on whom Jinx has a huge crush, is away at school. Jinx’s dad, Dr. Maxwell Marshall, is Dr. Doomsday, a survival expert whose book Dr. Doomsday’s Guide to Ultimate Survival provides advice for how to survive if (when?) an apocalypse hits. Advice from Dr. Doomsday appears throughout Day Zero, reminding us that “Everyone in this world seeks power. Those who will stop at nothing to attain it will also never willingly relinquish it” (loc. 483). He is also friends with Ammon Carver, a fact that drives another wedge between Jinx and Makeeba, a fierce advocate for The Spark and its failed Presidential candidate David Rosenthal.
Jinx is a compelling protagonist. She’s still getting used to her new family and has a truly sisterly relationship—non-stop bickering—with her new step-sister. She is incredibly protective of her little brother Charles, an adorable, eight-year-old herbologist who is diabetic, which has a big impact on events. Jinx’s relationship with her parents is complex: she both wishes they would have stayed together while understanding why her mother left her father, who forced the family to run extreme survival drills that left her disconnected from her peers . . . and society. Jinx is brilliant but often has a better understanding of computers and the virtual world than she does of the people around her. Each person in her family pulls or pushes Jinx in a different direction, and her reactions to each reveal a new facet of her identity. Terminus, Jinx’s best friend and her father’s protege, who she knows only virtually, and the mysterious and handsome Gustavo Navarro, who also knows her father, provide additional complexity as we come to understand Jinx.
DeVos creates a clear, distinct, and well-developed world within a chapter or two and then sets off a series of explosions that changes everything. Jinx, Makeeba, and Charles escape because of Dr. Marshall’s survival training and then return to a home in chaos to find that Jinx’s stepfather has been accused of being part of a conspiracy against the government. As she tries to keep her family together, Jinx must deal with a shifting understanding of who to trust. Pursued by agents of The Opposition, Jinx and her family work through one challenge after another, striving both to survive and for something more, to act morally as they come to understand the roots of an insidious and power-hungry corruption that goes deeper than they initially understand.
Day Zero strikes the balance between the personal and the political beautifully, reflecting the tension that dominates Jinx’s own life. The secondary characters work well to help the reader understand Jinx: her maturity, the moments when she falls into a natural self-interest, and her conflicted loyalties. I thoroughly enjoyed both the adventure-packed plot and deVos’s attention to deeper political and psychological issues. Watching the way these characters react to the changing society provided insight into the world of the book and—as the best books do—raised fascinating questions about our own world. I thoroughly enjoyed Day Zero and look forward to Kelly deVos’s conclusion to this duology.
zbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Fast-paced, non-stop action in this YA thriller. Thank goodness there is a second in the series. The question that the reader is left with is, what do you do when the world is against you? Who can you trust? That is what Jinx Marshall needs to figure out. Her world has collapsed figuratively and literally around her. She has been trained by her prepper father since she was little for disasters and now the time has come to put those lessons together. Jinx is a young girl, determined to set the record straight. She is well written as is her much younger brother Charles. He too has been ready since he was a toddler for any kind of disaster. His character is written with both humor but with a tinge of youthful innocence, reminding the reader that he is only 8. Jinx is his protector, as are his step-siblings Toby and MacKenna. I will say the cliffhanger left me frustrated but it is understandable when you get to the end of the book. Looking forward to the next book!!
llwilliams080117's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
mamat2's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
Find my original review on my blog: https://wp.me/p8jcuj-21q
Jinx's father takes doomsday preparation to an unhealthy level. As she was growing up, he would take their family on prepper drills, so that they would be prepared for when as they knew it finally ended. Jinx's mother couldn't handle it any more, so she divorced Jinx's father and married a new normal awesome guy. While Jinx loves her new stepfather, she has a crush on her older stepbrother, Toby, and can't stand her stepsister, MacKenna, whose only saving grace is that she loves Jinx's little brother, Charles, to pieces. Days after a recent contentious presidential election, bombs are set off in banks across the nation. Jinx, MacKenna, and Charles find themselves caught in the middle, but thankfully Jinx's doomsday prep work is there to save them. The government believes that MacKenna's dad is responsible for the bombs. Jinx's mom tells them all to go find Jinx's missing father, so that maybe he can use his government connections to save her stepfather. All of the adult's in Jinx's life seem to know more about the situation than they are staying, but she is determined to keep her brother alive. Along the way, the crew picks up a prepper boy who was sent by Jinx's father, to stay alive and out of the hands of the government.
Even as I explain the plot, I realize that there is alot going on. There almost seems to be too much story, and maybe certain readers will feel that way. I enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. I had to know what would happen next and how Jinx would address the next challenge. I can't wait for the final book in this duology because I had a great time with this one.
Jinx's father takes doomsday preparation to an unhealthy level. As she was growing up, he would take their family on prepper drills, so that they would be prepared for when as they knew it finally ended. Jinx's mother couldn't handle it any more, so she divorced Jinx's father and married a new normal awesome guy. While Jinx loves her new stepfather, she has a crush on her older stepbrother, Toby, and can't stand her stepsister, MacKenna, whose only saving grace is that she loves Jinx's little brother, Charles, to pieces. Days after a recent contentious presidential election, bombs are set off in banks across the nation. Jinx, MacKenna, and Charles find themselves caught in the middle, but thankfully Jinx's doomsday prep work is there to save them. The government believes that MacKenna's dad is responsible for the bombs. Jinx's mom tells them all to go find Jinx's missing father, so that maybe he can use his government connections to save her stepfather. All of the adult's in Jinx's life seem to know more about the situation than they are staying, but she is determined to keep her brother alive. Along the way, the crew picks up a prepper boy who was sent by Jinx's father, to stay alive and out of the hands of the government.
Even as I explain the plot, I realize that there is alot going on. There almost seems to be too much story, and maybe certain readers will feel that way. I enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. I had to know what would happen next and how Jinx would address the next challenge. I can't wait for the final book in this duology because I had a great time with this one.
tabatha_shipley's review against another edition
4.0
What I Did Like:
+The political side to this book makes it somehow more terrifying and relevant. I loved the detail put into crafting this world.
+The technology used feels realistic and possible in the best ways. Nothing feels too over the top.
+The cast of characters is wonderful. I love the inclusion of step siblings and a child who is a Type 1 diabetic. Too often dystopian books don’t consider those people on medications to live, this one does.
Who Should Read This One:
-Dystopian fans will enjoy the way this is crafted to be realistic and terrifyingly possible.
My Rating: 4 Stars
I will say that this one came up on my Goodreads as being shelved as “mystery/thriller” by previous readers. Respectfully, this is science fiction. With coding being so relevant and the technology experts the author had to consult, I’m not sure we could see this one as anything else. Add to that the fact that dystopian books are traditionally science fiction and I think my argument is made.
For Full Review:
https://alltherightreads.com/2023/06/12/2023-book-review-day-zero/
+The political side to this book makes it somehow more terrifying and relevant. I loved the detail put into crafting this world.
+The technology used feels realistic and possible in the best ways. Nothing feels too over the top.
+The cast of characters is wonderful. I love the inclusion of step siblings and a child who is a Type 1 diabetic. Too often dystopian books don’t consider those people on medications to live, this one does.
Who Should Read This One:
-Dystopian fans will enjoy the way this is crafted to be realistic and terrifyingly possible.
My Rating: 4 Stars
I will say that this one came up on my Goodreads as being shelved as “mystery/thriller” by previous readers. Respectfully, this is science fiction. With coding being so relevant and the technology experts the author had to consult, I’m not sure we could see this one as anything else. Add to that the fact that dystopian books are traditionally science fiction and I think my argument is made.
For Full Review:
https://alltherightreads.com/2023/06/12/2023-book-review-day-zero/