Scan barcode
thebookmaxxeryeahthatsmeteehee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sabreena29's review against another edition
3.0
This might or might not be a 3.5, it depends on how I'm feeling.
mudmule's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers below so stop reading now if you don’t want to know.
From the very first page this book had my full attention. I loved the characters and how they handled living together in this store. As the story progressed I was really torn to put the book down. After the death of Robbie and Mr. Applegate it felt like it was really starting to climax. Then Jake went outside and this was very thrilling to see the outside world, but then he just says he can’t do it anymore and strips and disappears??? I guess I missed something because I really didn’t see this coming and it felt as though the author just needed to get rid of a main character quickly. Then Niko starts freaking and making everybody pack to get on the bus to go to Denver. But even though they were going to sedate and restrain the dangerous members of the family, he didn’t want them to go along. So after sedating one of the little children he has her removed from the bus to stay behind with the other aggressive blood types. I was a bit taken aback by this. This poor little girl that just wanted to see her family again and the last thing she knew she was going to be rescued is now betrayed by the very ones protecting her and left behind??? Then the bus leaves and the book ends with five of them staying behind. It felt like the author was attempting to make it a happy ending when it was more like, what? I hung on the edge of my seat this whole time so they could stay behind and not rejoin their families???
By no means was this a bad book. It’s riveting and thrilling and full of suspense and I read it in one day. I will watch for a sequel because the ending feels like it wasn’t really ended, but I won’t put it on my keeper shelf to be read again.
From the very first page this book had my full attention. I loved the characters and how they handled living together in this store. As the story progressed I was really torn to put the book down. After the death of Robbie and Mr. Applegate it felt like it was really starting to climax. Then Jake went outside and this was very thrilling to see the outside world, but then he just says he can’t do it anymore and strips and disappears??? I guess I missed something because I really didn’t see this coming and it felt as though the author just needed to get rid of a main character quickly. Then Niko starts freaking and making everybody pack to get on the bus to go to Denver. But even though they were going to sedate and restrain the dangerous members of the family, he didn’t want them to go along. So after sedating one of the little children he has her removed from the bus to stay behind with the other aggressive blood types. I was a bit taken aback by this. This poor little girl that just wanted to see her family again and the last thing she knew she was going to be rescued is now betrayed by the very ones protecting her and left behind??? Then the bus leaves and the book ends with five of them staying behind. It felt like the author was attempting to make it a happy ending when it was more like, what? I hung on the edge of my seat this whole time so they could stay behind and not rejoin their families???
By no means was this a bad book. It’s riveting and thrilling and full of suspense and I read it in one day. I will watch for a sequel because the ending feels like it wasn’t really ended, but I won’t put it on my keeper shelf to be read again.
clues_and_courtship's review against another edition
3.0
Just to begin I will say ill read the sequels. It was good. But not great because of the writing. Plot wise, it excelled for how small of a book it was- but, unfortunately, the author could use a few pointers. The voice was humorous but lacked a description and emotion that it really could have used especially in this emotion/action packed novel. Still liked it though, and it was a debut so it gets some leeway. Ready for the next books!
ohtrisarahtops's review against another edition
3.0
Review can also be found here
This book was not as awesome as I thought it would be. I expected a lot more action than there was and honestly Dean's love for Astrid really took away from the story. Usually I'm all for a little romance but it wasn't even really romance since he's pretty much just loving her from afar.
These children are trapped in a store with disasters happening constantly and all Dean can think of is how pretty Astrid is or how much he liked her. And honestly I really didn't find myself caring too much about any of the characters. The little kids were adorable but at the same time I couldn't relate to a bunch of 5-6 year olds.
I just could not connect with this book. I found myself not being drawn in and honestly I was more than a little bored with the story. Not much happens, and in a dystopian/post apocalyptic/disaster book more things should be happening than what occurred in this book.
Even with all of the issues I had with this one, it was a quick read. When there is action going on the story does move nicely, however not enough happened to really have me interested in reading the rest of the trilogy.
This book was not as awesome as I thought it would be. I expected a lot more action than there was and honestly Dean's love for Astrid really took away from the story. Usually I'm all for a little romance but it wasn't even really romance since he's pretty much just loving her from afar.
These children are trapped in a store with disasters happening constantly and all Dean can think of is how pretty Astrid is or how much he liked her. And honestly I really didn't find myself caring too much about any of the characters. The little kids were adorable but at the same time I couldn't relate to a bunch of 5-6 year olds.
I just could not connect with this book. I found myself not being drawn in and honestly I was more than a little bored with the story. Not much happens, and in a dystopian/post apocalyptic/disaster book more things should be happening than what occurred in this book.
Even with all of the issues I had with this one, it was a quick read. When there is action going on the story does move nicely, however not enough happened to really have me interested in reading the rest of the trilogy.
kate4ez's review against another edition
3.0
This was a mostly enjoyable survival story, although the characters were standard high school caricatures for the most part. I expected to find the younger children annoying, but they were actually pretty well done. I read it with my daughter, who decided if something like this were to happen here she wants to hole up in the Sam's Club. The ending left us wanting to find out what happens next, so i imagine I'll be picking up Sky On Fire very soon.
nathalyalvarez's review against another edition
4.0
Leído para el 2015 Reading Challenge #5: Un libro con un numero en el titulo.
Leí este libro como un experimento para saber si todavía me gusta la distopia como me gustaba en el periodo 2012-2013, y resulta que sí, todavía lo hago.
Monument 14 es una lectura fresca, divertida y diferente; no el típico narrador que siempre es el mas inteligente, o el mas fuerte o popular. Tampoco la común historia de zombies o de régimen que los gobierna, sino una historia de catorce personas (específicamente adolescente y niños) atrapados en un supermercado después una tormenta de granito, mientras que afuera ocurren una serie de desastres.
Al principio es un tanto difícil no confundir los personajes pero en cuestión de paginas te sabes los nombres de los catorce y empiezas a conocerlos uno a uno, y a darte cuenta de cuan realistas son los personajes. Mi personaje favorito hasta el momento es Alex (y Niko, a veces), y realmente tengo ganas de leer el siguiente libro.
reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
What a crazy book! This is the book that I am discussing with book club on Wednesday and I am totally interested in hearing about what the kids will say.
The thing about this book and other post apocalyptic books is that it makes me thinking that something like this might actually happen.
I wasn't a fan of some of the characters in the book but I think a lot of the characters will appeal to different readers. I was thinking that this book is geared for middle and high schoolers but after some of the scenes in the book I was kind of thinking maybe for high instead.
I think I might read the 2nd book in the series but I'm not sure if I want to read it right away but I am interested to know
The thing about this book and other post apocalyptic books is that it makes me thinking that something like this might actually happen.
I wasn't a fan of some of the characters in the book but I think a lot of the characters will appeal to different readers. I was thinking that this book is geared for middle and high schoolers but after some of the scenes in the book I was kind of thinking maybe for high instead.
I think I might read the 2nd book in the series but I'm not sure if I want to read it right away but I am interested to know
Spoiler
if the kids make it to Denver and what happens with the 5 that stay in the Greenwayjennrocca's review against another edition
Held my interest and was a day's entertainment. If you liked “Life As We Knew It” then you’ll like this. This was not a great book but I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic survival stories so I enjoyed reading this despite some gaping plot holes and occasional clunkiness.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
After a stunning first book, we get a second book in the series. This time told from the perspectives of 2 people. Alex and Dean.
Team 1 with Alex is going out to Denver, to try and get help for the ones that stayed behind. They have the school bus and are all packed and wrapped with masks to prevent air coming through.
Then we have team 2 with Dean. He and a few others stayed behind, because it would have been to dangerous. After all 3 bloodtype O is very dangerous and he doesn't want to kill people.
I loved how it switched between the characters, sometimes a bit annoying when we just got to a good part, but luckily the chapters aren't that big.
I didn't like Astrid much throughout the book. I can somehow imagine why she acts the way she does, but still. :\
Josie and what she did was quite a surprise for me, I didn't expect that too happen, though I guess the writer needed material for the next book. :)
I am just sad that I will probably have to wait for 1 or 2 years before the paperback of book 3 is released. Stupid long wait time for paperbacks. (and then they wonder why everyone is going for ebooks)
Anyway, this book was great, and I really would recommend it to everyone looking for a great series, or to those who have read book 1 and aren't sure about book 2. Read it!
Team 1 with Alex is going out to Denver, to try and get help for the ones that stayed behind. They have the school bus and are all packed and wrapped with masks to prevent air coming through.
Then we have team 2 with Dean. He and a few others stayed behind, because it would have been to dangerous. After all 3 bloodtype O is very dangerous and he doesn't want to kill people.
I loved how it switched between the characters, sometimes a bit annoying when we just got to a good part, but luckily the chapters aren't that big.
I didn't like Astrid much throughout the book. I can somehow imagine why she acts the way she does, but still. :\
Josie and what she did was quite a surprise for me, I didn't expect that too happen, though I guess the writer needed material for the next book. :)
I am just sad that I will probably have to wait for 1 or 2 years before the paperback of book 3 is released. Stupid long wait time for paperbacks. (and then they wonder why everyone is going for ebooks)
Anyway, this book was great, and I really would recommend it to everyone looking for a great series, or to those who have read book 1 and aren't sure about book 2. Read it!