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abaugher's review against another edition
4.0
Fast read so far! cool story of the tyranny of school administration gone bad...REAL bad!
end: excellent! lots of action, bombs, fire, swords, guns, molotav cocktails, chases, standoffs, and mayhem. gotta read the next one!
end: excellent! lots of action, bombs, fire, swords, guns, molotav cocktails, chases, standoffs, and mayhem. gotta read the next one!
modkuraika's review against another edition
2.0
While I could never dismiss that any teenager publishing a book is impressive, and I'm sure a dream for many aspiring authors, it's just too heavy-handed for its own good. The premise is interesting and it certainly would've resonated with me if I read it when I was a kid, it just needed a more mature lens and perhaps a more diligent editor to push that much further. I try not to disparage YA novels because they serve an important purpose for young readers, and in the grand scheme of things, this is a harmless story with a lot more attention to detail than I would've thought. It just doesn't quite have the legs, but it does tap into that primal rebelliousness a lot of kids have, and filters it through a fairly entertaining power fantasy, and that ain't nothin'.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
1.0
Kind of a cool concept, but the execution is in sore need of an editor. Written by a teenager, and you can... tell. Sample sentence from pg. 426: "He had feared that Zyid would ask exactly that, though it wasn't unexpected."
Seriously.
The only reasons I finished this were that it was recommended by one of my teens, and I read the first half on a flight (it took me a week to get through the second half).
Interesting to see in the mind of a kid who's a little, let's say, disillusioned by school, which might be why it's getting an audience. Wanted to like it, but really.
Seriously.
The only reasons I finished this were that it was recommended by one of my teens, and I read the first half on a flight (it took me a week to get through the second half).
Interesting to see in the mind of a kid who's a little, let's say, disillusioned by school, which might be why it's getting an audience. Wanted to like it, but really.
mz_olson_8's review against another edition
An interesting read! But now I feel compelled to read the prequel and sequel:)
jtryckman's review against another edition
3.0
"Truancy" is a book that really, really wants to be groundbreaking. In the end, it really only ends up a cringy, messy text.
Now, for starters: this book was written by a 15 year-old. I teach 15 year-olds. If one of my students came to me and told me they had written this, I would be unbelievably proud of them and their accomplishment. The only problem is that this is a published novel, and judging it by the standards of other established dystopian novels means recognizing that, ultimately, "Truancy" just isn't very good.
The premise itself is just very heavy-handed: the Educators are a group of adult politicians that force children - students - to undergo years of intense, intentionally-rough learning. Anti-establishment themes are overwhelmingly obvious, as well. Perhaps this would not seem like much of an issue if it weren't for the fact that the novel keeps trying to treat these ideas like they're subtle. There is a clear disconnect between intent and result.
The other main problem: the characters. Tack, Zyid, and Umasi, in particular, all feel like basically-identical characters, in that they are these "wise-beyond-years" teenagers who can outwit and outfight any adult who tries to cross them. Other than Tack, none of the characters are given any kind of real character development: they all exist just as background to come and go as Fukui pleases. As a result, I ended up caring for them very little; there is a moment where some characters we met near the beginning are killed, and it is obvious that as the reader I should feel sad for these characters, and yet I feel almost nothing.
"Truancy" also appears to feel nothing, as the level of outright violence in this story is actually shocking. Not shocking in a way that surprises or invites conversation, mind you...just shocking in the sheer amount of it. The novel spends far too long describing scenes of gore and death, yet at the same time seems to care little for the actual horror of it all. Any emotion that could be gained from such scenes is entirely gone.
I initially read "Truancy" when I myself was about 15 years old. I'll admit, I loved it back then. Coming back to it, nearly 12 years later, I don't get any joy from reading it like I did before. While Fukui should be very proud of getting his novel published at such a young age, "Truancy" is a novel that definitely could have benefitted from having some additional editing.
Now, for starters: this book was written by a 15 year-old. I teach 15 year-olds. If one of my students came to me and told me they had written this, I would be unbelievably proud of them and their accomplishment. The only problem is that this is a published novel, and judging it by the standards of other established dystopian novels means recognizing that, ultimately, "Truancy" just isn't very good.
The premise itself is just very heavy-handed: the Educators are a group of adult politicians that force children - students - to undergo years of intense, intentionally-rough learning. Anti-establishment themes are overwhelmingly obvious, as well. Perhaps this would not seem like much of an issue if it weren't for the fact that the novel keeps trying to treat these ideas like they're subtle. There is a clear disconnect between intent and result.
The other main problem: the characters. Tack, Zyid, and Umasi, in particular, all feel like basically-identical characters, in that they are these "wise-beyond-years" teenagers who can outwit and outfight any adult who tries to cross them. Other than Tack, none of the characters are given any kind of real character development: they all exist just as background to come and go as Fukui pleases. As a result, I ended up caring for them very little; there is a moment where some characters we met near the beginning are killed, and it is obvious that as the reader I should feel sad for these characters, and yet I feel almost nothing.
"Truancy" also appears to feel nothing, as the level of outright violence in this story is actually shocking. Not shocking in a way that surprises or invites conversation, mind you...just shocking in the sheer amount of it. The novel spends far too long describing scenes of gore and death, yet at the same time seems to care little for the actual horror of it all. Any emotion that could be gained from such scenes is entirely gone.
I initially read "Truancy" when I myself was about 15 years old. I'll admit, I loved it back then. Coming back to it, nearly 12 years later, I don't get any joy from reading it like I did before. While Fukui should be very proud of getting his novel published at such a young age, "Truancy" is a novel that definitely could have benefitted from having some additional editing.
lillianhong's review against another edition
3.0
I would've loved it but...I don't know if anyone noticed but if you take Umasi (one of the strongest and mysterious characters in the book) and flip it, you get Isamu, the author. That seemed so stupid and arrogant to me. :/
ginnikin's review against another edition
Usually, I only talk about throwing books; this one irritated me enough that I actually did throw it. Whine whine whine, yeah, life sucks. However, crappy writing is no remedy therefor.
krissyronan's review against another edition
3.0
Finally made time to finish this book. An action-packed dystopia. It was not my favorite but one I'm glad that I read as I can think of lots of students who might enjoy it.
ellen's review against another edition
4.0
um ok those fight scenes were killer like oh my gosh those were amazing
i love how this was just like SCHOOL SUCKS LETS TAKE IT DOWN!!!!!!!
also BROTHERS!?!? FATHER!??!! WHATTTTT
i love how this was just like SCHOOL SUCKS LETS TAKE IT DOWN!!!!!!!
also BROTHERS!?!? FATHER!??!! WHATTTTT
etinney's review against another edition
5.0
I am dissapointed in my fellow women. What is with the squemish(ness?). Were you expecting a literary masterpiece in this?? Were you expecting Emma or Jane Eyre?? I believe that he wrote well for a 15 year-old. Why are you attacking it? It was a great deal to get it published. The way he presents his characters is well done in my opinion. You do not know whose side to be on. I love post apocalyptic novels, and this one was one of the best. The actions scenes were intense. The characters were believable, complex, and scary. You really had sympathy for these kids who were murderers. I enjoyed the different points of view. Also, you finally have a girl protaganist who actually does something. It's so annoying when I have to look through the eyes of a "heroine" who waits for her boyfriend to beat up the bad guys then save her. Noni, the girl in this book, is strong enough to take care of herself. However, she does have a heart, which I appreciate in my assassians. I would recommend this book to anyone. I do not rebel against school. I love school, and I am a teacher's pet. Oh, and fellow women, read an action book. Romances are BORING, and their ideas do not help further women's power in the world. Just remember: "Good girls seldom make history."