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vivianne's review against another edition
3.0
A boy wakes up in a sweltering, bare field. He doesn’t know how he ended up there, where he was before or what his name is. After discovering a strange 7 on his leg he finds a backpack containing a mobile phone. Relieved he wants to enter the emergency number, but then sees that he has received a voice message. To his amazement he hears: Whatever happens, don’t call the police. And he knows one thing for sure this is his own voice. Then a pick-up truck comes driving up...
spoiler free review!
I wanted to read this book for a while. The synopsis really interested me and reminded me of one of my favorite books:[b:The Maze Runner|6186357|The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)|James Dashner|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375596592s/6186357.jpg|6366642]. What I also liked is that this is a standalone, I was really curious how Mirjam Mous was going to conclude this story in less than 300 pages. I don’t think this book has been produced in the English language but they should! There is a Dutch movie produced which I was also planning on seeing after reading this.
The book starts amazing, with all the questions. I can’t imagine someone would stop reading after reading the first page. But I don’t think this is that original. Like I mentioned before the blurb really reminded me of the maze runner; a boy waking up alone with no memory’s. But this book actually took a really different direction than I thought it would.
I don’t know what to think of when Sem finds this Notebook. I don’t particularly like this part while I was reading it, because it felt unrealistic. It’s way to detailed to be real notes about his past. I really felt that I was lagging behind events, and that disturbed me because I wanted to know what had happened and this notebook tells about classes and tests. But after I finished I realized this story needed this, I was just happy that it didn’t continue through the whole book.
When part three in the book started the real excitement started. I loved the fast action filled plot and I couldn’t stop reading. And I loved how Sem handles it.
This book is well structured and thought over. Everything was told at the right moment and the order made you want to continue reading because the tension is growing gradually. What I think is the strength of this book is that there are so many questions you want to get answered as fast as possible. Unfortunately that was also a loss. I wanted to know the questions so bad that I started skipping lines just to come closer to finding the answers, that was a shame because this actually is a well written book.
I have never read anything from Miriam Mous but maybe I will in the future. I liked her writing style. It was fast paced and there weren’t unnecessary chapters or details. It’s very quick and easy to real (For some people too easy). I think her books aren’t literature but they are perfect for young readers and relaxing rainy afternoons. I only got annoyed that she sometimes wanted to fit too much in one sentence. That made it sometimes a bit untidy, especially in the beginning. Another annoyance I had while reading was the English words woven into this Dutch language book. In the Dutch language we take over a lot of English words, especially new once. But we have words for “notebook” “boy” and “seven”?! I was annoyed while reading, I don’t understand that authors want to participate in this trend.
I didn’t bind and connect much with the main character. I don’t think that that is the goal of this stand alone. But I did miss that connection with characters. Sem was an ok narrator and I liked him as the main character but he was nothing special. I do like that he is realistic in the way he acts and thinks in the situation. He isn’t a character I would remember and neither where the other characters in this book. But I really think this story doesn't need this because of the crazy good plot. I really liked Louis though, he was just what this series needed. I liked his friendship with Sem and the way he dealt with the whole situation. I hated what they did to him. I hated Lara throughout the whole book, she does one nice thing butbut I found that to be really predictable.
The world building isn’t much special. It’s just our world like in 2016. The descriptions where ok but leave a lot to the imagination. The institute hasn’t much debt. I mean I wanted to know more than it was a grey building and there was a fence. Flatstaff, is the town the other part of the story plays in. I just know that there is a Pizza Hut, and a bowling Centre, I have no idea how the rest of the town looks. But just like with the characters I think this story doesn’t need it.
There are a lot of unanswered questions and illogical moves from the cooperation. Why didn’t they find out Sam was also in on the first escape when Louis got captured. Why give them a chip when they were there for a few weeks, when you install it you can track them immediately? Why let them run around the hallways, you can’t fool me that there weren’t camera’s or that the night watcher never saw them. I don’t fully understand CooperationX. Their actions looked like an amateur school camp. I think that this cooperation is so, so unrealistic. Mad scientists fine, but this whole institute with classes and stuff it sounded so… weird. Only 8 boys? Why let a girl of 15/16 do a lot of dirty work? Who are there leaders? I also think there motives are a little bit vague, ok they want money and to test this brain thing but it’s still a little vague what they want.
Enjoyable for an evening but this isn’t for people who are looking for literature.
spoiler free review!
I wanted to read this book for a while. The synopsis really interested me and reminded me of one of my favorite books:[b:The Maze Runner|6186357|The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)|James Dashner|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375596592s/6186357.jpg|6366642]. What I also liked is that this is a standalone, I was really curious how Mirjam Mous was going to conclude this story in less than 300 pages. I don’t think this book has been produced in the English language but they should! There is a Dutch movie produced which I was also planning on seeing after reading this.
The book starts amazing, with all the questions. I can’t imagine someone would stop reading after reading the first page. But I don’t think this is that original. Like I mentioned before the blurb really reminded me of the maze runner; a boy waking up alone with no memory’s. But this book actually took a really different direction than I thought it would.
“My eyes wandered along the mirror that hung above the sink. I caught a flash of a boy with blond hair all sides peaked out. With a jolt, I realized it was my own reflection. Is something wrong? asked Lara. And if there was something! I did not recognize myself.”
I don’t know what to think of when Sem finds this Notebook. I don’t particularly like this part while I was reading it, because it felt unrealistic. It’s way to detailed to be real notes about his past. I really felt that I was lagging behind events, and that disturbed me because I wanted to know what had happened and this notebook tells about classes and tests. But after I finished I realized this story needed this, I was just happy that it didn’t continue through the whole book.
When part three in the book started the real excitement started. I loved the fast action filled plot and I couldn’t stop reading. And I loved how Sem handles it.
This book is well structured and thought over. Everything was told at the right moment and the order made you want to continue reading because the tension is growing gradually. What I think is the strength of this book is that there are so many questions you want to get answered as fast as possible. Unfortunately that was also a loss. I wanted to know the questions so bad that I started skipping lines just to come closer to finding the answers, that was a shame because this actually is a well written book.
I have never read anything from Miriam Mous but maybe I will in the future. I liked her writing style. It was fast paced and there weren’t unnecessary chapters or details. It’s very quick and easy to real (For some people too easy). I think her books aren’t literature but they are perfect for young readers and relaxing rainy afternoons. I only got annoyed that she sometimes wanted to fit too much in one sentence. That made it sometimes a bit untidy, especially in the beginning. Another annoyance I had while reading was the English words woven into this Dutch language book. In the Dutch language we take over a lot of English words, especially new once. But we have words for “notebook” “boy” and “seven”?! I was annoyed while reading, I don’t understand that authors want to participate in this trend.
I didn’t bind and connect much with the main character. I don’t think that that is the goal of this stand alone. But I did miss that connection with characters. Sem was an ok narrator and I liked him as the main character but he was nothing special. I do like that he is realistic in the way he acts and thinks in the situation. He isn’t a character I would remember and neither where the other characters in this book. But I really think this story doesn't need this because of the crazy good plot. I really liked Louis though, he was just what this series needed. I liked his friendship with Sem and the way he dealt with the whole situation. I hated what they did to him. I hated Lara throughout the whole book, she does one nice thing but
The world building isn’t much special. It’s just our world like in 2016. The descriptions where ok but leave a lot to the imagination. The institute hasn’t much debt. I mean I wanted to know more than it was a grey building and there was a fence. Flatstaff, is the town the other part of the story plays in. I just know that there is a Pizza Hut, and a bowling Centre, I have no idea how the rest of the town looks. But just like with the characters I think this story doesn’t need it.
There are a lot of unanswered questions and illogical moves from the cooperation. Why didn’t they find out Sam was also in on the first escape when Louis got captured. Why give them a chip when they were there for a few weeks, when you install it you can track them immediately? Why let them run around the hallways, you can’t fool me that there weren’t camera’s or that the night watcher never saw them. I don’t fully understand CooperationX. Their actions looked like an amateur school camp. I think that this cooperation is so, so unrealistic. Mad scientists fine, but this whole institute with classes and stuff it sounded so… weird. Only 8 boys? Why let a girl of 15/16 do a lot of dirty work? Who are there leaders? I also think there motives are a little bit vague, ok they want money and to test this brain thing but it’s still a little vague what they want.
Spoiler
The ending to Sems story was beautiful, and I pinked a tear away. But the ending of CooperationX was not! I hated that every single person from the organization got away and just continued in another country. I think it’s fitting for this story that it has an open end, and I loved that it was told from Lara’s perspective.Enjoyable for an evening but this isn’t for people who are looking for literature.
jakolienvdh's review against another edition
3.0
It was good, mainly for the nostalgia and memories of reading this as a teenager. The writing was okay, but definitely leaning a bit towards middle grade, rather than ya. Also wouldn’t really call this a thriller, more dystopian? mystery? Ending was a bit rushed and felt a bit too.. easy? but not bad, enjoyed the little epilogue page that leaves you wondering. This isn’t something I would normally pick up nowadays, but would’ve probably rated this at least a 4 if i was still 13 and obsessed with these type of stories, but I could just tell i am no longer the target audience for this so dropped it to a three. Could still appreciate it though and it was very fun to reread and remember how i felt as a kid reading this for the first time.
enaria's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
lisa_readsbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
devor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
chaly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
warnarbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. Het was heel leuk om deze na zoveel jaar nog een keer te lezen. Het is echt een spannend verhaal. Nu merk ik alleen wel meer dat er toch wat gaten in het plot zitten, maar het blijft een spannend boek voor op de lijst!
zee128_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
annedv's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0