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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
I genuinely enjoyed this story!
I first heard about it through one of those things at school where the librarian goes to all the classes and recommends books for the students to read to try and get the students interested in reading. This was the only book that caught my attention and it took over a year after first hearing about it before I even picked it up. I was wandering through the library and I stumbled apon it and remembered what I heard about it.
The plot was a super interesting sci-fi/dystopian type story with an interesting premise and some pretty intense action sequences that I enjoyed thoroughly. It starts out quite slowly with a bit too much detail in the football sequences (which bored me quite a lot since they made literally no sense sinceJ don't watch football and know nothing about it) but once the action begins, it doesn't stop.
The characters were pretty okay. I like the main character Tucker and his friend Quinn but I wasn't a big fan of Kent or Olivia much. I just found them to be quite bland, but the main character made up for it since I found him to be a realistic teen with a fun personality.
The writing style did a very good job at setting up the action and building suspense. I read this quite a while ago so there isn't much I remember about it.
If you're considering picking this up, do it. If you like dystopian stories with racing action then you might wanna check it out.
I first heard about it through one of those things at school where the librarian goes to all the classes and recommends books for the students to read to try and get the students interested in reading. This was the only book that caught my attention and it took over a year after first hearing about it before I even picked it up. I was wandering through the library and I stumbled apon it and remembered what I heard about it.
The plot was a super interesting sci-fi/dystopian type story with an interesting premise and some pretty intense action sequences that I enjoyed thoroughly. It starts out quite slowly with a bit too much detail in the football sequences (which bored me quite a lot since they made literally no sense sinceJ don't watch football and know nothing about it) but once the action begins, it doesn't stop.
The characters were pretty okay. I like the main character Tucker and his friend Quinn but I wasn't a big fan of Kent or Olivia much. I just found them to be quite bland, but the main character made up for it since I found him to be a realistic teen with a fun personality.
The writing style did a very good job at setting up the action and building suspense. I read this quite a while ago so there isn't much I remember about it.
If you're considering picking this up, do it. If you like dystopian stories with racing action then you might wanna check it out.
D.J. MacHale- Sylo
I’m struggling a little with what to say about this books. I liked it, but there was just something about it that felt off.
The entire book is a mystery. You follow along as the main characters try to figure out what is going on. I felt like the author was trying to give off intense vibes sometimes, but they just didn’t really work. The entire book moves along at a pretty steady pace. It’s not slow, it’s just not exciting. Events that should have been heart stopping were just a little more interesting, but it didn’t have that page turner quality.
I think the concept is fantastic. It’s set in a very realistic world, with relate-able characters. The problem is… I just don’t care about some of them enough. There are a couple that I feel attached to though. A few deaths hit me harder than others (not a spoiler, you can tell from the first paragraph that lots of death is coming). Only one of them gave me true sadness. The rest didn’t really bother me that much. I felt worse the other people had to handle it than truly sorry for the loss. I feel like there needs to be more focus on developing the characters and showing us who they are.
That all said. I did like the book. I will be starting the second one (probably later today). I am hoping as the series goes on the character depth will increase and I’ll get to rate the books higher.
For more reviews click here!
I’m struggling a little with what to say about this books. I liked it, but there was just something about it that felt off.
The entire book is a mystery. You follow along as the main characters try to figure out what is going on. I felt like the author was trying to give off intense vibes sometimes, but they just didn’t really work. The entire book moves along at a pretty steady pace. It’s not slow, it’s just not exciting. Events that should have been heart stopping were just a little more interesting, but it didn’t have that page turner quality.
I think the concept is fantastic. It’s set in a very realistic world, with relate-able characters. The problem is… I just don’t care about some of them enough. There are a couple that I feel attached to though. A few deaths hit me harder than others (not a spoiler, you can tell from the first paragraph that lots of death is coming). Only one of them gave me true sadness. The rest didn’t really bother me that much. I felt worse the other people had to handle it than truly sorry for the loss. I feel like there needs to be more focus on developing the characters and showing us who they are.
That all said. I did like the book. I will be starting the second one (probably later today). I am hoping as the series goes on the character depth will increase and I’ll get to rate the books higher.
For more reviews click here!
I liked the storyline of this novel, about people on an island off the Maine coast invaded by some mysterious contingent of the U.S. Navy, then trapped and imprisoned, while teens try to make sense of the who, what, where, and why. Parts contained a lot of action. Some very likeable characters don't make it. There's enough in here to allow Hollywood FX guys to have a lot of fun. Boys will like it.
BUT, I was so disappointed by the writing. Too simplistic, with no depth. The action doesn't really start to pick up until 70 pages in. There's a lot of overuse of explanatory words/phrases such as "which meant" and "because" in those first 70 pages, and that was annoying. Too much use of cliches. It was unclear to me at what point technology could be accessed again after the invasion, and at what point it was cut off again. I never really found that it went back on, but Tucker mentions Googling at one point where I didn't think he would have been able to Google. And, my experience with broken wrists these days is that they aren't set, just wrapped in a cast. I guess unless it's a really bad fracture, but that wasn't made clear, either.
The writing is middle grade level, but the teen stuff is more MS/HS level; nothing explicit, but just MS/HS romance stuff that a middle grade kid wouldn't necessarily be interested in. So where do you shelve it in a library?
I have not yet read the Pendragon series, but now I am interested to see if this is MacHale's usual style, or if Pendragon is a cut above, as it has stood the test of time.
The first book ends with a definite second book setup.
BUT, I was so disappointed by the writing. Too simplistic, with no depth. The action doesn't really start to pick up until 70 pages in. There's a lot of overuse of explanatory words/phrases such as "which meant" and "because" in those first 70 pages, and that was annoying. Too much use of cliches. It was unclear to me at what point technology could be accessed again after the invasion, and at what point it was cut off again. I never really found that it went back on, but Tucker mentions Googling at one point where I didn't think he would have been able to Google. And, my experience with broken wrists these days is that they aren't set, just wrapped in a cast. I guess unless it's a really bad fracture, but that wasn't made clear, either.
The writing is middle grade level, but the teen stuff is more MS/HS level; nothing explicit, but just MS/HS romance stuff that a middle grade kid wouldn't necessarily be interested in. So where do you shelve it in a library?
I have not yet read the Pendragon series, but now I am interested to see if this is MacHale's usual style, or if Pendragon is a cut above, as it has stood the test of time.
The first book ends with a definite second book setup.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well this was my first book that I read by D.J. MacHale and I'm glad that I picked it up. I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own if I hadn't met him at an author event.
The whole premise of the book was really interesting. I thought it was going to be science fiction but it also had a mystery, adventure and war-ish themes to it too. Had to characterize it under one. I liked how football played a little bit into the story because when I'm struggling to find more football book this would be a good option. I actually just had a student check this out yesterday because he saw that it said fans of James Dashner's series The Maze Runner would like this.
Tucker was your stereoypical male character so he really wasn't a super character but I think he went along with the story ok. I liked some of the other characters in the story a little bit but sad that they won't be making it to book 2 (no spoilers, I promise).
The ending was pretty crazy! Not much was resolved so I think the next book is going to hopefully answer a lot of questions that are kind of left hanging. I think a lot of kids will be interested in the story but I just wish the book wasn't so thick!
The whole premise of the book was really interesting. I thought it was going to be science fiction but it also had a mystery, adventure and war-ish themes to it too. Had to characterize it under one. I liked how football played a little bit into the story because when I'm struggling to find more football book this would be a good option. I actually just had a student check this out yesterday because he saw that it said fans of James Dashner's series The Maze Runner would like this.
Tucker was your stereoypical male character so he really wasn't a super character but I think he went along with the story ok. I liked some of the other characters in the story a little bit but sad that they won't be making it to book 2 (no spoilers, I promise).
The ending was pretty crazy! Not much was resolved so I think the next book is going to hopefully answer a lot of questions that are kind of left hanging. I think a lot of kids will be interested in the story but I just wish the book wasn't so thick!
As much as I hate to not finish a book I just had to put this down. I've kind of hit that point where if a book isn't interesting me my drive to finish diminishes greatly. I figured I might as well move on to something I would enjoy more than forcing myself to try and finish this book within the next month or two. This book wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me.
It was OK. I mean not much happened and the characters weren't all that likeable. I guess the mystery just didn't intrigue me because I hate having nothing but questions because it assumes I'm that wrapped up in the story. I hate books that are purposely set up for a series and there's absolutely no resolution.
Sylo is a very action packed book with allot of twist and turns. the book follows the main character Tucker Pierce a resident of a small island just off the coast off Maine. Who watches the sudden death of his all star team mate. And then witnesses some sort of ship crash with his best friend Quinn Carr.then is offered a mysterious super human drug called ruby by an even more mysterious man. his island is then quarantined by a branch of the U.S navy know a Sylo. all these mix together to forum a plot overflowing with action.
I choose to read this book because i am a big fan of Science fiction. also reading the description of the book it sounded amazing.it also has a very original story to tell. also i think aliens might be involved and who dosent like aliens.
What i really thought worked well in this book was the setting. it is set in a small town on a small island witch could be boring. But the writer makes great use of the small space. also the progression of action is just right not to slow and not to fast. the book also raise allot of interesting questions about life.
What i didn't like in the book was confusing love triangles that left me very confused. also it takes Tucker to long to notice things that are right in front of him.and in a place or to the book drags a bit. but in this book the good far out weigh the bad.
My overall impression of this book is that it is a well put together and exciting series opener. the characters are very interesting. the plot is quick and action packed. it will keep you glued to the pages. And leave you wanting the next book.
If you love Sci-Fi or adventure you will love this book. The plot is fast and the twist and turns are many. The action is non stop and intensifies around every corner. the characters are well made and interesting.and the setting and story line are perfect.
I choose to read this book because i am a big fan of Science fiction. also reading the description of the book it sounded amazing.it also has a very original story to tell. also i think aliens might be involved and who dosent like aliens.
What i really thought worked well in this book was the setting. it is set in a small town on a small island witch could be boring. But the writer makes great use of the small space. also the progression of action is just right not to slow and not to fast. the book also raise allot of interesting questions about life.
What i didn't like in the book was confusing love triangles that left me very confused. also it takes Tucker to long to notice things that are right in front of him.and in a place or to the book drags a bit. but in this book the good far out weigh the bad.
My overall impression of this book is that it is a well put together and exciting series opener. the characters are very interesting. the plot is quick and action packed. it will keep you glued to the pages. And leave you wanting the next book.
If you love Sci-Fi or adventure you will love this book. The plot is fast and the twist and turns are many. The action is non stop and intensifies around every corner. the characters are well made and interesting.and the setting and story line are perfect.
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No