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courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know where to begin in writing a review on this one, so I will keep it brief. I have a near-obsession with post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels right now, and this one covers that niche perfectly. I would say it definitely qualifies as literary fiction, and I would imagine sci-fi lovers would also really enjoy it. It reminded me of an adult version of the Hunger Games (obviously not with the kids fighting to the death business, but the dreariness and the poverty, etc.)
It is dark, dreary, and terrifying- in the best possible way. Up until the last few chapters, most of my imagery while reading was dark.
The ending..... well.....
This one will stay with me and haunt me, and that's a compliment.
Recommended for people who enjoy: sci-fi, The Hunger Games but wish there was a more adult-like version, dystopian novels, literary fiction
It is dark, dreary, and terrifying- in the best possible way. Up until the last few chapters, most of my imagery while reading was dark.
The ending..... well.....
This one will stay with me and haunt me, and that's a compliment.
Recommended for people who enjoy: sci-fi, The Hunger Games but wish there was a more adult-like version, dystopian novels, literary fiction
caresays's review against another edition
3.0
Working through how I feel about this book. The writing was good, detailed, and vivid. I felt like I was there, which is a little unfortunate given that it's not a pleasant future that North has painted. In the year 2043, a teenaged girl named Darcy lives on an island in the Pacific after North America has succumbed to the Ice Age's second coming. Her mother goes missing one day and that disappearance unravels Darcy's whole life as she embarks on a search for her.
The novel is dark and gritty, leaving uncomfortable grains behind. But behind that I found the story to be rather predictable. We all know by now that dystopian novels don't work out and government control is scary and the face behind it all is usually m,ore terrified than anyone. I liked Darcy fine, but I disliked Sarah. I couldn't help but feel that Darcy was better off without her. I wanted to be more sympathetic to Darcy's plight, but I don't think her mom did her any favors.
North seems to have set the ending up for a sequel. I'm intrigued to know how that comes to be.
The novel is dark and gritty, leaving uncomfortable grains behind. But behind that I found the story to be rather predictable. We all know by now that dystopian novels don't work out and government control is scary and the face behind it all is usually m,ore terrified than anyone. I liked Darcy fine, but I disliked Sarah. I couldn't help but feel that Darcy was better off without her. I wanted to be more sympathetic to Darcy's plight, but I don't think her mom did her any favors.
North seems to have set the ending up for a sequel. I'm intrigued to know how that comes to be.
nibblersmommy's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't mind the grittiness of the writing or the harsh environment descriptions at all. It actually seemed to make the setting of the book more realistic to me. I suppose if something like the premise of this book were actually to happen, that would be how it would really be.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and visiting the different places along with the main character. I thought that the characters she meets along the way to finding her mother added depth and made the storyline more interesting. The political component of the island's runnings and how it affects every character down to street performers really interested me. I found the entire environment well described and easy to visualize.
This book really roped me in - I finished it very quickly. I hope that Anna does write sequel. I'd be interested to see how the main character does when she is shuffled from one harsh world to the next (at least I'm imagining it to be), and how she copes with it.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and visiting the different places along with the main character. I thought that the characters she meets along the way to finding her mother added depth and made the storyline more interesting. The political component of the island's runnings and how it affects every character down to street performers really interested me. I found the entire environment well described and easy to visualize.
This book really roped me in - I finished it very quickly. I hope that Anna does write sequel. I'd be interested to see how the main character does when she is shuffled from one harsh world to the next (at least I'm imagining it to be), and how she copes with it.
operasara's review against another edition
4.0
America Pacifica by Anna North is a dystopian novel that takes place on a tightly packed small tropical island where Americans have moved to following an ice age which made North America Uninhabitable. The island is controlled by a leader who ensures that the rich (those who made it to the island first) live a nice and comfortable life while the poor squander to stay alive. Darcy has grown up on the island in severe poverty dropping out of school to work at a nursing home to help support herself and her mother. When her mother disappears she drops everything to find her and uncovers more than she expected about the real history of the island and it's founders.
I had mixed feelings about this book, it's being cross marketed to the YA audience so I expected something completely different, once I realized it was an adult book I enjoyed it more. The book is very gritty. Darcy lives in total poverty and is so desperate to find her mother that she is willing to do anything to get information. While the story was entertaining it was not always engrossing and the dystopia and "enemy" were not strong enough for this book to be fantastic. There were plot points and characters that were unnecessary and distracting to the main plot which bogged down the story for me and the lack of a strong and prevalent secondary character kept me detached at times. Darcy went from place to place and met with different people most of which did not ever appear again.
Appropriateness: As I said earlier I was initially under the impression that this was a Young Adult audience because it has been cross promoted to YA bloggers. This is not a young adult book, it is an adult book that has a main character that is a teenager. The main character is a reformed drug addict (who huffed solvent) and speaks longingly about the drugs as an escape. There is quite a bit of sexual content in this book which are "icky" rather than erotic. There are descriptions of sexual organs, masturbation and a graphic description of Darcy having sex with someone for information. There is some violence but not a large amount and there is no romance at all. I would recommend this book to science fiction and dystopia fans 16+ who would not be put off by the sexual content. This book isn't erotica by any sense and would not be harmful for younger readers however the nature of the sexual content is of the type that would make younger readers uncomfortable.
I had mixed feelings about this book, it's being cross marketed to the YA audience so I expected something completely different, once I realized it was an adult book I enjoyed it more. The book is very gritty. Darcy lives in total poverty and is so desperate to find her mother that she is willing to do anything to get information. While the story was entertaining it was not always engrossing and the dystopia and "enemy" were not strong enough for this book to be fantastic. There were plot points and characters that were unnecessary and distracting to the main plot which bogged down the story for me and the lack of a strong and prevalent secondary character kept me detached at times. Darcy went from place to place and met with different people most of which did not ever appear again.
Appropriateness: As I said earlier I was initially under the impression that this was a Young Adult audience because it has been cross promoted to YA bloggers. This is not a young adult book, it is an adult book that has a main character that is a teenager. The main character is a reformed drug addict (who huffed solvent) and speaks longingly about the drugs as an escape. There is quite a bit of sexual content in this book which are "icky" rather than erotic. There are descriptions of sexual organs, masturbation and a graphic description of Darcy having sex with someone for information. There is some violence but not a large amount and there is no romance at all. I would recommend this book to science fiction and dystopia fans 16+ who would not be put off by the sexual content. This book isn't erotica by any sense and would not be harmful for younger readers however the nature of the sexual content is of the type that would make younger readers uncomfortable.
just_a_touch_of_bibliomania's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a dystopian. Had no idea, I found it in a bulk bin and bought it for the cover. It's rated on the lower end on Goodreads, barely above a 3 star, and it's been on my TBR shelf for a few years now.
This book follows a girl living on an island called America Pacifica years after the mainland has fallen under an ice age. Her mother goes missing, and this novel follows her as she attempts to find her. Everything we learn about the history and politics of this world is through the characters she meets.
I thought the writing was actually very good and if you like a story that is moved solely by the character than this is a book for you. I felt like it was a great look at how apathy and fear can lead to a broken government and elitist system, with hope possibly at the horizon but ignorance, propaganda and fear maintaining the status quo.
Overall, an enjoyable read, a little slice of life in a dystopian world with what I consider the perfect ending for this story.
This book follows a girl living on an island called America Pacifica years after the mainland has fallen under an ice age. Her mother goes missing, and this novel follows her as she attempts to find her. Everything we learn about the history and politics of this world is through the characters she meets.
I thought the writing was actually very good and if you like a story that is moved solely by the character than this is a book for you. I felt like it was a great look at how apathy and fear can lead to a broken government and elitist system, with hope possibly at the horizon but ignorance, propaganda and fear maintaining the status quo.
Overall, an enjoyable read, a little slice of life in a dystopian world with what I consider the perfect ending for this story.
melissarochelle's review against another edition
2.0
Does it seem like apocalypic/dystopian works meant for adults just don't pack the same punch as those targeted at a young adult audience (or is this just me)? America Pacifica, [b:The Dog Stars|13330761|The Dog Stars|Peter Heller|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333577302s/13330761.jpg|18538203], and [b:White Horse|12173462|White Horse|Alex Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326018441s/12173462.jpg|17144967] all left me feeling kind of "meh". They aren't bad, but they also don't really hold my attention.
In America Pacifica, I never really felt anything for the main character, Darcy. I didn't feel bad for her when her mom disappeared, I didn't even really care about her future. And then the end of the book? WTH? It suddenly goes from describing events to some kind of vague notion of...being saved? Dying? I have no idea.
I liked aspects of this book. The world-building was pretty interesting, but it would have been nice to have a little more description -- did they just pick an island and use trash and "solvent" to build it up?
Not a bad read...but no where near one of my favorites.
In America Pacifica, I never really felt anything for the main character, Darcy. I didn't feel bad for her when her mom disappeared, I didn't even really care about her future. And then the end of the book? WTH? It suddenly goes from describing events to some kind of vague notion of...being saved? Dying? I have no idea.
I liked aspects of this book. The world-building was pretty interesting, but it would have been nice to have a little more description -- did they just pick an island and use trash and "solvent" to build it up?
Not a bad read...but no where near one of my favorites.
maedo's review
3.0
Think Winter's Bone crossed with Ship Breaker, spiked with a little bit of The Hunger Games, and you have a good idea of what is excellent and maybe not so excellent about America Pacifica. The not so excellent thing is that because the market is so heavily saturated with dystopian worlds and headstrong girls in search of justice and/or their family members, this will seem like so many things you've already read and loved before. Perhaps in contrast it will fall short. You might be tempted to put it down within the first 100 pages.
But if you give Darcy's story time to grow on you, it will. If you have doubts that she is as indomitable as Ree Dolly, you must read to the ending. Anna North's prose seems almost styleless and confusing at first, as the post-apocalyptic world is being introduced, but given time to grow it takes on a crisp, understated beauty (again you must read to the ending).
Perhaps the best thing about the book is that its revolutionaries are vulnerable, very human, a balm to the flat characters of Ship Breaker. It's rare to read about revolutionaries that are defined as much by their susceptibility to being squashed as they are by their noble ideals. In fact, this is why I usually don't like reading political stories. But America Pacifica manages to be as much about people as it is about politics.
Fans of any of the books mentioned above should enjoy it. I really did.
But if you give Darcy's story time to grow on you, it will. If you have doubts that she is as indomitable as Ree Dolly, you must read to the ending. Anna North's prose seems almost styleless and confusing at first, as the post-apocalyptic world is being introduced, but given time to grow it takes on a crisp, understated beauty (again you must read to the ending).
Perhaps the best thing about the book is that its revolutionaries are vulnerable, very human, a balm to the flat characters of Ship Breaker. It's rare to read about revolutionaries that are defined as much by their susceptibility to being squashed as they are by their noble ideals. In fact, this is why I usually don't like reading political stories. But America Pacifica manages to be as much about people as it is about politics.
Fans of any of the books mentioned above should enjoy it. I really did.
foreveryoungadult's review
Graded By: Erin
Cover Story: Yes, Please
BFF Charm: No, But Thank You
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: A Manifesto
Bonus Factors: Climate Change, Cheese, Revolution
Relationship Status: My Kind of Depressing College Professor
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Yes, Please
BFF Charm: No, But Thank You
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: A Manifesto
Bonus Factors: Climate Change, Cheese, Revolution
Relationship Status: My Kind of Depressing College Professor
Read the full book report here.
professor_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good, fast read. There are definitely bleak, gritty and often graphic details as the novel points out the differences in social hierarchy, and makes readers wonder what lengths Darcy is willing to go to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance. While not as slick and polished as other dystopian novels I've read, North's vivid descriptions and her craft of world-building are themselves worth a read. I actually really liked the ambiguous ending.