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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I love the concept of this book: using video games to secretly fight a war. It seems particularly possible in this day of drones in our skies watching over us and keeping us "safe." What if those drones were actually being controlled by some kid who thought he was playing a video game? That's the idea in this book, but it's aliens in space being fought off by kids glued to their computers. I think the concept was weakened by the dream sequences. The story would have come off more believable if all the fighting had been done from the computer.
I like Pratchett's witty writing style in the Discworld series, but it seems slightly out of place in this book geared towards kids. I don't know many preteen kids who speak like the kids in this book.
But all in all it was a quick fun read.
I like Pratchett's witty writing style in the Discworld series, but it seems slightly out of place in this book geared towards kids. I don't know many preteen kids who speak like the kids in this book.
But all in all it was a quick fun read.
It was an interesting concept but it did not grab me like some of his other books. While I thought it was OK, I do not think I'm going to actively seek out the other two in the trilogy
reflective
medium-paced
A fun and exciting adventure. The characters were funny and it was nice that the kids were only called by their nicknames and not their real names (because as a kid, why would you call your friends by their real names?). I liked the idea that the video game was real and to see the perspective from the "bad guys" of the game. They don't want to fight the players at all, but because the players are shooting they have no choice but to fight back as a defense. At the same time, there are also best fierce and heavy things going on in the book. A war, a car accident, a divorce.... Some of these topics felt redundant? I guess? I didn't quite understand what they were supposed to add to the story. All in all, a fun story to read through quickly which is very entertaining.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have tried to like Pratchett books, because people whose views I respect seem to REALLY like them, but they just don't make it for me. They aren't bad - it is just that that kind of humor doesn't hit my funny bone.
If I was a ten year old boy in the 80s I would have loved this. However, I'm not. So here we are
Ender's Game has nothing on this.
Quick, funny, touching, thrilling, thoroughly frightening at times, and, I mean, geez, it's Terry Pratchett. He makes being a twelve-year-old boy interesting. Practically perfect in every way, and I want to give Johnny a hug.
Fantastic.
Quick, funny, touching, thrilling, thoroughly frightening at times, and, I mean, geez, it's Terry Pratchett. He makes being a twelve-year-old boy interesting. Practically perfect in every way, and I want to give Johnny a hug.
Fantastic.
This book really made an impression on me. Story may not be anything extra ordinary, for Pratchett anyway, but the message is important and it came through loud and clear. You may not be best person to do the job, but no one else will do it and it's something that needs to be done.