168 reviews for:

The Scourge

Jennifer A. Nielsen

3.74 AVERAGE

meganmeeker's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

cornchops's review against another edition

3.0

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Started this with my 6th grade Lunch Bunch, before the building closure. I wish I could have finished it with them. We didn’t really know there would be a pandemic when we chose it. Or that it would end with deep prejudice and exploitation...

shinyrae's review against another edition

2.0

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Basic plot, flat characters, and meandering villains. I didn't realize it was juvenile fiction at first, but even so... I shouldn't be able to figure out the plot twist when I'm twenty pages into the book. Not for me, but probably engaging for a fourth-sixth grade level.

wrynn_wood's review against another edition

5.0

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I liked this book a ton. The characters and the plot were really good. I liked all of the twists and turns in the book. It was a really enjoyable read.

ryann_hansen's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

charbobsantos's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

hillaryperkins's review against another edition

5.0

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Love, love, love!

skauffman's review against another edition

4.0

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As a huge fan of The Ascendance Triology, it was refreshing to see a smart, head-strong and witty character take female form as Ani in "The Scourge". She mirrored so many of Sage/Jaron's like-able qualities while still being her very own, which I really enjoyed. I was at times annoyed by her inability to go along with another idea that wasn't hers and often caught myself eye-rolling over how defiant she felt the need to be AT. ALL. TIMES.

I loved the dystopian elements that were woven into the story and found myself on the edge of my seat until the very end, but was a liiiiitle disappointed by how predictable some of the plot seemed to be. It still kept my attention! The amount of times I wanted to punch either Della, the wardens, and the governor in the face were probably unhealthy, but that's what I get for connecting to characters, I guess! I'll definitely be book talking this to my students. For fans of a medieval-esque-dystopian-ish society...read it!

lzprsn's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous funny inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lexi_taiga's review against another edition

3.0

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This whole review will be a spoiler as the twist if you will was obvious by the first page.

Spoiler

It was obvious very quickly that the plague was fake and that it was only designed to keep the country under control. There was never much doubt about that even though the characters were a bit slow on the uptake. The characters were fun and I like how the friendship was central. I wish it had not developed into romance and there are few books were boys and girls are just friends. The ending was also rushed. I do not think the townspeople would have let go our their racism so easily and no country just returns slaves. I undermined much of the message about racism/prejudice that everyone was just all great at the ending. Though, it is a children's book.