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A review by bethany6788
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I have never, ever been let down by Jeff Zentner. His novels bring me so many feelings. He is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. His words are passionate. He makes you feel. He lets you inside the world of his characters and they feel so very real. I literally sent him a message that after a part in this book I cried for 15 minutes. Then I basically cried the whole rest of the book.
The Serpent King is a YA lit novel that follows Dill, Lydia, and Travis. It’s told from each of their perspectives during their senior year. Dill’s father is in prison. Travis’s father is abusive. Lydia dreams of leaving the small town behind.
*Beware of spoilers below*
Things I loved about this book:
The triple POV was perfection. Each character had their own voice and I was in love with all of them.
Dill - he just wanted to do his best and be happy. He struggled with guilt and fear, and some religious scares. He didn’t want to disrupt anyone else’s life but also thought he didn’t always deserve the opportunities that he got. The scene with Lydia’s dad and him had me tearing up. His promise to Lydia. How he kept his promise.
Lydia - she dream of big city life and growing her fashion career, but she also loved Travis and Dill, her two best friends. She had a supportive and loving family and her dad definitely reminded her of this. Her belief in Dill was so strong and full of love and how she surprised Travis with the best day of his life!??
Travis - he is every loner kid. So relatable and as a fellow book nerd - I get it! I loved how he found his place online with friends and even a girl.
I was so excited when Lydia got into NYU and made her dreams come true.
Travis’s death shocked me and had me sobbing into my book. There are literal tear drops on the pages from that part on. How Dill reacts. The day that Lydia finds him in his bed… my heart hurt. HURT!
When Dill thought about killing himself and went to Lydia for help instead, I cried so hard.
When Lydia and Dill took the final book to Travis’s grave.
Pathetic prom.
I love that Dill got into college.
Lydia and Dill saying goodbye to Travis had me sobbing.
The ending was so perfect.
I loved it.
The Serpent King is a YA lit novel that follows Dill, Lydia, and Travis. It’s told from each of their perspectives during their senior year. Dill’s father is in prison. Travis’s father is abusive. Lydia dreams of leaving the small town behind.
*Beware of spoilers below*
Things I loved about this book:
The triple POV was perfection. Each character had their own voice and I was in love with all of them.
Dill - he just wanted to do his best and be happy. He struggled with guilt and fear, and some religious scares. He didn’t want to disrupt anyone else’s life but also thought he didn’t always deserve the opportunities that he got. The scene with Lydia’s dad and him had me tearing up. His promise to Lydia. How he kept his promise.
Lydia - she dream of big city life and growing her fashion career, but she also loved Travis and Dill, her two best friends. She had a supportive and loving family and her dad definitely reminded her of this. Her belief in Dill was so strong and full of love and how she surprised Travis with the best day of his life!??
Travis - he is every loner kid. So relatable and as a fellow book nerd - I get it! I loved how he found his place online with friends and even a girl.
I was so excited when Lydia got into NYU and made her dreams come true.
Travis’s death shocked me and had me sobbing into my book. There are literal tear drops on the pages from that part on. How Dill reacts. The day that Lydia finds him in his bed… my heart hurt. HURT!
When Dill thought about killing himself and went to Lydia for help instead, I cried so hard.
When Lydia and Dill took the final book to Travis’s grave.
Pathetic prom.
I love that Dill got into college.
Lydia and Dill saying goodbye to Travis had me sobbing.
The ending was so perfect.
I loved it.