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mehsi's review
5.0
A school trip ends with creepy aliens and oh yes, DON'T SLEEP! EVER.
I was so excited about a new Jennifer Killick book, I LOVE her books and I am always excited to see what she will write next. This time we have a group of kids going to a new activity center and having a great school trip... or well that is what it is supposed to be but strange things happen.
This will be a good/not so good review (though I only have one not so good).
Good:
-I loved our MC, he really reminded me of Alex Sparrow in the way he acted and talked. I did feel sorry for him that he had to endure bullying by Trent and also crappiness from Hoche. I knew he wasn't a bad apple, despite what Trent and Hoche were telling. You could just see it how he treated his friends, was there for them, put others before himself (not always good, but in this situation it is).
-I was curious about why he had to sleep alone and had several ideas but I hadn't expected that one to be it. I loved how the author wrote about it and I am glad we finally have a child character with this. I am sure there is a kid out there who is excited to see someone like them.
-Plus, what he had was helpful for the story.
-I loved the friendship and the dynamics between the kids.
-The aliens were awesome, and creepy, and disgusting. I had a couple of scenes that I was just NOPING (like when they removed their skin to show stuff, NOPE).
-The aliens plan was pretty fantastic and while they were evil bastards I do feel for them that they crashed on this planet and never could leave. OK, they ruined it by the whole taking over ideas instead of just going home, but hey, they must have been pissed. :P
-I loved Crater Lake, I would have loved to see it in action without the aliens as it seems there was plenty to do and explore.
-I want to play Geek, Robot, Overlord now!
-I loved seeing the kids that remained (well, with the exception of Trent who was just a lazy and scared doodoo) try to figure out how to stop the aliens and to save the world.
-The actual cure and how they implemented it was just fantastic.
-The cover is amazing! I just love how it has that whole creepy and spooky vibe.
-I loved that the story kicked off being creepy immediately when the kids arrive at Crater Lake. Bloody hands, creepy guy with mysterious messages. Oh yes!
-The whole don't sleep is perfect because you need sleep eventually. It all seems fun to stay up for long, but eventually your body just gives you a giant kick and demands sleep or else.
-I had such a big laugh near the end when they found out a cure and Chets said a certain thing.
-That we find out why Lance put Trent in a toilet and locked him up. Gee, I would have done the same. Though I would have been honest with my friend (s) why I did it.
-There were many other parts that I just loved to bits, I just flew through the book. Before I knew it it was over.
Not so good:
-That we already knew what the aliens/creepy stuff was before things actually happen. We learn about a certain critter and what it does. I just think it was a shame as I would rather have had them first meet the aliens/monsters/critters and then they see a tv somewhere with that documentary and find out what the aliens/monsters/critters are.
All in all, I loved this book and I cannot wait to see what Jennifer Killick will write next. I would highly recommend this creepy sci-fi book to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was so excited about a new Jennifer Killick book, I LOVE her books and I am always excited to see what she will write next. This time we have a group of kids going to a new activity center and having a great school trip... or well that is what it is supposed to be but strange things happen.
This will be a good/not so good review (though I only have one not so good).
Good:
-I loved our MC, he really reminded me of Alex Sparrow in the way he acted and talked. I did feel sorry for him that he had to endure bullying by Trent and also crappiness from Hoche. I knew he wasn't a bad apple, despite what Trent and Hoche were telling. You could just see it how he treated his friends, was there for them, put others before himself (not always good, but in this situation it is).
-I was curious about why he had to sleep alone and had several ideas but I hadn't expected that one to be it. I loved how the author wrote about it and I am glad we finally have a child character with this. I am sure there is a kid out there who is excited to see someone like them.
-Plus, what he had was helpful for the story.
-I loved the friendship and the dynamics between the kids.
-The aliens were awesome, and creepy, and disgusting. I had a couple of scenes that I was just NOPING (like when they removed their skin to show stuff, NOPE).
-The aliens plan was pretty fantastic and while they were evil bastards I do feel for them that they crashed on this planet and never could leave. OK, they ruined it by the whole taking over ideas instead of just going home, but hey, they must have been pissed. :P
-I loved Crater Lake, I would have loved to see it in action without the aliens as it seems there was plenty to do and explore.
-I want to play Geek, Robot, Overlord now!
-I loved seeing the kids that remained (well, with the exception of Trent who was just a lazy and scared doodoo) try to figure out how to stop the aliens and to save the world.
-The actual cure and how they implemented it was just fantastic.
-The cover is amazing! I just love how it has that whole creepy and spooky vibe.
-I loved that the story kicked off being creepy immediately when the kids arrive at Crater Lake. Bloody hands, creepy guy with mysterious messages. Oh yes!
-The whole don't sleep is perfect because you need sleep eventually. It all seems fun to stay up for long, but eventually your body just gives you a giant kick and demands sleep or else.
-I had such a big laugh near the end when they found out a cure and Chets said a certain thing.
Spoiler
"Hey, Katja," Chets calls out. "Basically, I ate some magic moss and it made me feel a bit weird, but the good news is that I don't think I'm sporeling anymore."-That we find out why Lance put Trent in a toilet and locked him up. Gee, I would have done the same. Though I would have been honest with my friend (s) why I did it.
-There were many other parts that I just loved to bits, I just flew through the book. Before I knew it it was over.
Not so good:
-That we already knew what the aliens/creepy stuff was before things actually happen. We learn about a certain critter and what it does. I just think it was a shame as I would rather have had them first meet the aliens/monsters/critters and then they see a tv somewhere with that documentary and find out what the aliens/monsters/critters are.
All in all, I loved this book and I cannot wait to see what Jennifer Killick will write next. I would highly recommend this creepy sci-fi book to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
mbenzz's review
3.0
I think this book was a case of, "It's not you, it's me".
I really just did not care for this story. I read it because it was short, and I figured I'd breeze through it in a couple of days, but it took over a week.
I love Middle-Grade books. They're my absolute favorite because they tend to be fanciful and light. When I read a book, I want to actually LIKE the place I'm escaping to, and Middle-Grade books are usually fun and adventurous.
This book? Well, this book reads like a vintage sci-fi paperback, which is pretty cool if you're into that sort of thing, so I would definitely recommend it for fans of that genre. I think my main beef was the story felt hollow. I didn't really like the main character, and while I was TOLD numerous times that he's a 'bad kid' and a trouble maker, I just didn't see or feel it. The characters are all cardboard, and the plot is thin.
That being said, I do think this is a great story for kids under 12. The overuse of the word 'hell' started to get a little old...it was like a child being told they could say this one 'bad' word, so they overuse it to the point of annoyance...but other than that, the overall message was a good one, and the story was creepy without being scary. Not my favorite, but a decent story for sci-fi lovers.
I really just did not care for this story. I read it because it was short, and I figured I'd breeze through it in a couple of days, but it took over a week.
I love Middle-Grade books. They're my absolute favorite because they tend to be fanciful and light. When I read a book, I want to actually LIKE the place I'm escaping to, and Middle-Grade books are usually fun and adventurous.
This book? Well, this book reads like a vintage sci-fi paperback, which is pretty cool if you're into that sort of thing, so I would definitely recommend it for fans of that genre. I think my main beef was the story felt hollow. I didn't really like the main character, and while I was TOLD numerous times that he's a 'bad kid' and a trouble maker, I just didn't see or feel it. The characters are all cardboard, and the plot is thin.
That being said, I do think this is a great story for kids under 12. The overuse of the word 'hell' started to get a little old...it was like a child being told they could say this one 'bad' word, so they overuse it to the point of annoyance...but other than that, the overall message was a good one, and the story was creepy without being scary. Not my favorite, but a decent story for sci-fi lovers.
ginab74's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
itsmi07justmi's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
purple676's review
2.0
this was not what I thought it would be. Characters were poorly developed and I kept forgetting what i had just read. It was a struggle to finish it
piedwarbler's review
4.0
Read this aloud to year 7 during lockdown on Microsoft Teams. They liked it. It is about a year 6 trip to a residential centre with added zombies. The teacher, Miss Hooch (you have to pronounce it as though you’re clearing your throat) is the baddie.
There are lots of life lessons at the heart of this exciting story about friendship and courage.
I would recommend it for year 6 and year 7 readers.
Very funny but also scary in places (mild peril, as they say!)
There are lots of life lessons at the heart of this exciting story about friendship and courage.
I would recommend it for year 6 and year 7 readers.
Very funny but also scary in places (mild peril, as they say!)
vickylovesreading's review
5.0
Absolutely demolished this after it became available on borrow box this morning.
My goodness, what a read! So many twists and turns and WATER BEARS!!!!!!!! I really thoroughly enjoyed this dark book and think that many kids would love it too.
My goodness, what a read! So many twists and turns and WATER BEARS!!!!!!!! I really thoroughly enjoyed this dark book and think that many kids would love it too.
ros_lanta's review
3.75
I've read a number of books by Jennifer Killick recently and I suspect she may become an "autobuy" author for me. She writes genuinely creepy middle grade horror, but with warmth, decent character development, and friendship as a major theme of every book. I also really appreciate that Killick includes characters with disabilities that I've never personally seen represented in fiction before, let alone middle grade.
Crater Lake is my least favourite of her books I've read to date, but I would still easily recommend it. Like the Dread Wood series this is a scifi horror, but in a very different way, which I won't spoil. I enjoyed it and the sequel is now on my wishlist.
Crater Lake is my least favourite of her books I've read to date, but I would still easily recommend it. Like the Dread Wood series this is a scifi horror, but in a very different way, which I won't spoil. I enjoyed it and the sequel is now on my wishlist.