'This book is brilliant, let me start off with that. It's fast paced and even when the pace drops, the plot still keeps you hooked'
The newest stand-alone book of Lauren Oliver's takes us to a small New York town where every summer the graduating seniors complete the game called Panic. It's a test of nerves and fearlessness and whoever makes it to the end wins the big cash prize. Heather wants the money to get her little sister away from their mother and the trailer park they call home, while Dodge is playing for revenge. It's a high stakes game with more at risk than money.
This book is brilliant, let me start off with that. It's fast paced and even when the pace drops, the plot still keeps you hooked. The setting is realistic and the characters, Heather and Dodge especially, are well developed and interesting. There's a hint of romance but it's your usual cliche which is refreshing in a young adult book. There are times when, plot-wise, Panic is a bit unrealistic. To me, this was mainly a concern with the moral issues dealt with during the game. But even though it's not the most realistic plot out there, it's still well-written and attention-grabbing.
I thought Heather was a great character. She's strong and independent, and even though she is portrayed as one of the weaker players for most of the book, I felt that this was intentional to show readers that being physically weak doesn't mean you can't be calm and fearless. Dodge too was a good character, but his storyline didn't appeal to me as much as Heather's. He was well-rounded but I couldn't get into the swing of his narrative voice.
In terms of the ending, it was sweet and rounded the book off well after the action packed events of the last few chapters and the whole story in general. All in all, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who are fans of Lauren Oliver, teen adventure books or something a little different from the current trends in young adult fiction right now.
Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Join the site and send us your review!
0 comments:
Post a Comment