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ignited_redqueen75's review against another edition
5.0
This book was intense and although I figured out the ending somewhat before the end it was still awesome.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
"Is what you thought you needed worth this?"
It seems too good to be true. Students at Nottawa High School in Wisconsin receive invitations to a social networking site that asks them what they 'need' and promises to give it to them. The catch? They must do something in order for their need request to be granted...
What starts (and seems like) pranks quickly escalate to dangerous and deadly acts.
Kaylee has been desperately searching for a potential kidney donor for her little brother for months, unsuccessfully. Can NEED provide the answer for her?
We soon see that most teenagers aren't as noble as Kaylee, as requests for electronic equipment, money, concert tickets are agreed on - for a price. While the students start by being able to justify their small 'jokes', the story cleverly shows us that apparently unconnected actions (writing out a receipt, delivering cookies, digging a hole in a garden) are all building to a horrifying picture.
I had trouble to start with keeping track of all the characters, as we see NEED from each of their perspectives. Mostly though, Kaylee is our narrator, and her fellow students' stories form part of hers.
It's a little heavy-handed on the moral, though it turns into more of a thriller by the end as Kaylee tries to work out the secrets behind the NEED website. I quite like the conclusion, and I must admit, seeing greedy teenagers get their comeuppance had a certain schadenfreude quality to it, though it's also horrifying.
There is violence though nothing graphic. No sexual content. It's an intriguing idea and really does hammer home the idea that 'needing' something is a concept we should consider very carefully, as well as what we are willing to do to get what we desire.
There's a little teen romance in here that I found distracting, but I loved the concept - the use of social media in the story is excellent, and it's a great one to recommend to ages 12-17.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
It seems too good to be true. Students at Nottawa High School in Wisconsin receive invitations to a social networking site that asks them what they 'need' and promises to give it to them. The catch? They must do something in order for their need request to be granted...
What starts (and seems like) pranks quickly escalate to dangerous and deadly acts.
Kaylee has been desperately searching for a potential kidney donor for her little brother for months, unsuccessfully. Can NEED provide the answer for her?
We soon see that most teenagers aren't as noble as Kaylee, as requests for electronic equipment, money, concert tickets are agreed on - for a price. While the students start by being able to justify their small 'jokes', the story cleverly shows us that apparently unconnected actions (writing out a receipt, delivering cookies, digging a hole in a garden) are all building to a horrifying picture.
I had trouble to start with keeping track of all the characters, as we see NEED from each of their perspectives. Mostly though, Kaylee is our narrator, and her fellow students' stories form part of hers.
It's a little heavy-handed on the moral, though it turns into more of a thriller by the end as Kaylee tries to work out the secrets behind the NEED website. I quite like the conclusion, and I must admit, seeing greedy teenagers get their comeuppance had a certain schadenfreude quality to it, though it's also horrifying.
There is violence though nothing graphic. No sexual content. It's an intriguing idea and really does hammer home the idea that 'needing' something is a concept we should consider very carefully, as well as what we are willing to do to get what we desire.
There's a little teen romance in here that I found distracting, but I loved the concept - the use of social media in the story is excellent, and it's a great one to recommend to ages 12-17.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
lovaalir's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
fictionaddictions_amanda's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book and I thought the characters were interesting. I also loved the message about needs vs wants and Internet dangers for young adults. However, I thought the book was average and predictable. I enjoyed "the testing" series much more form this author.
ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
3.0
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
So, I liked Need. It is one of those books that I don't have much to say about. But I will try. Long story short, NEED is a social experiment of the students of Nottawa high school. It starts off as an invite only site, but eventually as the site gains popularity NEED asks them to do something more. Now, people who want their "needs" granted have to complete an assignment on the behalf of NEED. Soon, people are dying, being frames, and no one but the high school students know about the site that is under it all.
Need changed POVs way too many times for my liking. Every time I thought that Joelle was done adding POVs another one was added. After the fourth person I was getting confused with who was who. Kaylee (Our MC) is told in first person point of view, and the rest in third person. She was the only character, besides Nate that I was able to get a clear view on. Kaylee, is a social out cast. A few months earlier her brother was told he needed a kidney transplant, and in desperation she begged people to be tested. Do to her actions in trying to find her brother a kidney, Kaylee isn't believed by her mother or the police when she founds a connection between Amanda's death and NEED.
This book is incredibly hard to talk about with out spoiling the whole thing. So I am apologizing now for such a short review. Need reminded me a lot of The Monkey's Paw. It was a required reading for my 10th grade English class and it taught the lesson that there is a price for everything you ask for. Which I think is what Need got at. None of the things that people were asking for where actually needs. They were wants. Kaylee asked for a kidney for her brother. That was an actual need and there for she wasn't asked to do anything vs. the people who only wanted something who had to complete an incriminating action.
Overall I liked Need. I had a few issues with it (spoiler things) that caused my rating to be on the low side. But the ending was left open so I am really curious to see if there will be a book two in the future.
So, I liked Need. It is one of those books that I don't have much to say about. But I will try. Long story short, NEED is a social experiment of the students of Nottawa high school. It starts off as an invite only site, but eventually as the site gains popularity NEED asks them to do something more. Now, people who want their "needs" granted have to complete an assignment on the behalf of NEED. Soon, people are dying, being frames, and no one but the high school students know about the site that is under it all.
Need changed POVs way too many times for my liking. Every time I thought that Joelle was done adding POVs another one was added. After the fourth person I was getting confused with who was who. Kaylee (Our MC) is told in first person point of view, and the rest in third person. She was the only character, besides Nate that I was able to get a clear view on. Kaylee, is a social out cast. A few months earlier her brother was told he needed a kidney transplant, and in desperation she begged people to be tested. Do to her actions in trying to find her brother a kidney, Kaylee isn't believed by her mother or the police when she founds a connection between Amanda's death and NEED.
This book is incredibly hard to talk about with out spoiling the whole thing. So I am apologizing now for such a short review. Need reminded me a lot of The Monkey's Paw. It was a required reading for my 10th grade English class and it taught the lesson that there is a price for everything you ask for. Which I think is what Need got at. None of the things that people were asking for where actually needs. They were wants. Kaylee asked for a kidney for her brother. That was an actual need and there for she wasn't asked to do anything vs. the people who only wanted something who had to complete an incriminating action.
Overall I liked Need. I had a few issues with it (spoiler things) that caused my rating to be on the low side. But the ending was left open so I am really curious to see if there will be a book two in the future.
sciencequeen's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
vandavknihach's review against another edition
4.0
Joelle Charbonneau má svůj styl psaní, alespoň co se týče jejích young adult knížek. Líbí se mi, jak mezi dějem rozebírá jednotlivé problémy současné doby. Tím kniha dostává i jiný rozměr než jen plytký příběh bez jakéhokoliv poselství. Stejně tak je to i u Univerzity výjimečných.
Na začátku jsem se bála množství postav, které se v knize objevovali. Každá kapitola byla z pohledu někoho jiného. Naštěstí to autorka zvládla dobře, nic se mi nemotalo, věděla jsem kdo je kdo.
Kniha je čtivá a postupně jak se příběh rozjížděl, tak to bylo čím dál tím víc napínavější. A ten konec jsem shltla. Pachatel projektu NEED (nebudu zmiňovat konkrétně kvůli spoilerům) mi silně připomínal Jeanine z Divergence.
Kniha je vlastně zobrazením, čeho všeho jsou lidé schopní, když mají před sebou vidinu splněného přání. Nad čím nechtějí přemýšlet a nedomýšlejí následky. A také, jak jsou schopni se s tím vyrovnat.
Celkově byla kniha příjemná, napínavá a čtivá.
A nakonec nezapomeňte, že přání je něco jiného než potřeba.
Na začátku jsem se bála množství postav, které se v knize objevovali. Každá kapitola byla z pohledu někoho jiného. Naštěstí to autorka zvládla dobře, nic se mi nemotalo, věděla jsem kdo je kdo.
Kniha je čtivá a postupně jak se příběh rozjížděl, tak to bylo čím dál tím víc napínavější. A ten konec jsem shltla. Pachatel projektu NEED (nebudu zmiňovat konkrétně kvůli spoilerům) mi silně připomínal Jeanine z Divergence.
Kniha je vlastně zobrazením, čeho všeho jsou lidé schopní, když mají před sebou vidinu splněného přání. Nad čím nechtějí přemýšlet a nedomýšlejí následky. A také, jak jsou schopni se s tím vyrovnat.
Celkově byla kniha příjemná, napínavá a čtivá.
A nakonec nezapomeňte, že přání je něco jiného než potřeba.
apple_cider's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5