Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I'm pretty sure that anything with a bright cover will draw be in. The blurb got me intrigued when I saw it in wh smiths for the first time. It started off really well and I don't know the rest of it was a bit jumbled and was difficult to follow at times, I found myself reading over bits. I also feel like there was very little character development.
I felt like i would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it at a younger age. Mostly because of the way somethings where worded made it feel less developed then it could have been.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2 hours 33 minutes - The storyline was very engaging, albeit unrealistic a lot of the time. The characters were interesting enough but lacked depth or character development most of the time which could have made this book even better. The writing style was simplistic, but I didn't mind this that much - in some places I felt it fit the story pretty well. Sometimes, however, it was too simplistic, and fell into the trap of 'telling not showing'. Overall, this book was action-packed and enjoyable to read, but had great potential and fell a bit short of what it could have been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Cults
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence
Okay, so I won an advance copy of Thirteen in the goodreads giveaway - all in all, for a free book, I was pleased.
The cover is very striking, and the pages are lined with yellow, so I was impressed by that, it was simple but effective.
Thirteen is an interesting book, it's got a very clever, well thought out plot and storyline, one that's quite unique (it's very different from I am Number Four). I was so engrossed into the story that I finished the book in one sitting, a feat which I rarely accomplish because of boredom.
Now in regards to the characterisation, I feel as though a lot of people think that, Adam, the main character, was unrealistic in regards to someone who is only thirteen. I'd beg to differ because I have a sister who is thirteen, and I can see so many behavioural traits shared among the two.
While the story is interesting and an amazing concept, I feel like I didn't connect to Adam or the other characters, it was very fast paced, so if you're looking to read something where you connect to a character, I'd put down this book and exchange it for A Game of Thrones instead! :P
The cover is very striking, and the pages are lined with yellow, so I was impressed by that, it was simple but effective.
Thirteen is an interesting book, it's got a very clever, well thought out plot and storyline, one that's quite unique (it's very different from I am Number Four). I was so engrossed into the story that I finished the book in one sitting, a feat which I rarely accomplish because of boredom.
Now in regards to the characterisation, I feel as though a lot of people think that, Adam, the main character, was unrealistic in regards to someone who is only thirteen. I'd beg to differ because I have a sister who is thirteen, and I can see so many behavioural traits shared among the two.
While the story is interesting and an amazing concept, I feel like I didn't connect to Adam or the other characters, it was very fast paced, so if you're looking to read something where you connect to a character, I'd put down this book and exchange it for A Game of Thrones instead! :P
For fans of [bc:The Recruit|6949153|The Recruit (Cherub, #1)|Robert Muchamore|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1425060115s/6949153.jpg|1153817] and [bc:Gone|2536134|Gone (Gone, #1)|Michael Grant|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1357796831s/2536134.jpg|2543657]
was written on the front cover of my edition. I bought it without even reading the synopsis and the cover looks so different so I just have to get it. Boy, was I ever wrong.
Firstly, I am exasperated with everyone in this book. Every single one, especially the adults. It is disconcerting on how wide the influence of this Coron guy. He is obviously schizophrenic but no one seems to question him? Reminds me of this guy who claims he has a kingdom in the air a few years ago but he was immediately detained when he become a menace to society. This is the opposite of that. For thirteen years he managed to thrive, and successfully kill 12 boys. We don't know how long ago did this madman exist nor do we know are there others did he harmed. And you're telling me a lone police officer and a doctor in his fold could manage to cover up such a huge thing. Killing all the boys born on New Year's Eve Y2K all over England? I think not.
The fact that the epilogue is just the judge asking how he didn't lose his mind going through such harrowing experience made me want to pull my hair out. Where is the whole "we'll cover the cost of therapy that you need after such incompetence in the force" or "we have round up The People, you'll rest easy"? What about their tarnished image? If I'm not mistaken there seems to be a cover up and they will not be referred to by name in the upcoming press conference. The public will scorned Adam and Megan if they do not know the truth. They had been painted as murderers for God sake.
Despite the fact that I obviously hate the entire book, I gotta admit that I admired the torture method conducted by Coron. Dorm 13 is a nice touch. Others not so much.
was written on the front cover of my edition. I bought it without even reading the synopsis and the cover looks so different so I just have to get it. Boy, was I ever wrong.
Firstly, I am exasperated with everyone in this book. Every single one, especially the adults. It is disconcerting on how wide the influence of this Coron guy. He is obviously schizophrenic but no one seems to question him? Reminds me of this guy who claims he has a kingdom in the air a few years ago but he was immediately detained when he become a menace to society. This is the opposite of that. For thirteen years he managed to thrive, and successfully kill 12 boys. We don't know how long ago did this madman exist nor do we know are there others did he harmed. And you're telling me a lone police officer and a doctor in his fold could manage to cover up such a huge thing. Killing all the boys born on New Year's Eve Y2K all over England? I think not.
The fact that the epilogue is just the judge asking how he didn't lose his mind going through such harrowing experience made me want to pull my hair out. Where is the whole "we'll cover the cost of therapy that you need after such incompetence in the force" or "we have round up The People, you'll rest easy"? What about their tarnished image? If I'm not mistaken there seems to be a cover up and they will not be referred to by name in the upcoming press conference. The public will scorned Adam and Megan if they do not know the truth. They had been painted as murderers for God sake.
Despite the fact that I obviously hate the entire book, I gotta admit that I admired the torture method conducted by Coron. Dorm 13 is a nice touch. Others not so much.
I really enjoyed this book because had a very different feel from other adventure books I've read. There was action in every chapter and the story was fast paced. It truly felt like reading an action movie, which was Tom Hoyle's aim.
There was only one problem I had with this book, and that was the character development. Although there was some character development throughout this book, I felt like Tom Hoyle skipped over it to focus on the action. Although the book was action-packed and full of suspense I wish there was a little bit more character development.
I can't wait to read the sequel, Spiders, because this book was so much fun! It is a middle grad, action book but I think that anyone who loves action novels will love this book!
There was only one problem I had with this book, and that was the character development. Although there was some character development throughout this book, I felt like Tom Hoyle skipped over it to focus on the action. Although the book was action-packed and full of suspense I wish there was a little bit more character development.
I can't wait to read the sequel, Spiders, because this book was so much fun! It is a middle grad, action book but I think that anyone who loves action novels will love this book!
One of my favorite books this year! Thirteen was just so freaking good that I really don't understand why this has a lot of bad reviews. This book is disturbing and I agree it's not for everyone but it makes you realize how dangerous cults are and how brainwashed their members are. At the end of the book, the author gives you some real examples of cults and the atrocities they commit, like stabbing a three-month baby...
Everyone needs to read this ASAP!
Everyone needs to read this ASAP!
Okay, everyone who is saying this is totally a middle grade book just stop it. I know middle grade has stuff like Alex Rider and that's scary too but it's a spy book. This is a Cult Book. Capital Letters here people. Cults do exist and this would be terrifying for a 12 or 13 year old to read about. In my school, we didn't learn about cults until high school so why should it be for kids in middle school? This book was really well done and got cults down pretty accurately. I thought it was fast paced and thrilling. I know this book is not for everyone but I did enjoy it.