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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Really liked this one. Surprised me! A lot of action and is set for the second in the series. But... When is the second one going to come out? I can't find details anywhere.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Category: REQUIRED AUTHOR
This was a riveting book, and an easy read. I really enjoyed the author's style of writing and found it to be truly authentic. There were a lot of different elements/ conspiracy things happening throughout the story, and I'm not sure that it was entirely believable... but once I decided to buy into the story I really enjoyed it. It definitely left me wanting more, and I'll probably be sure to read the second book to see what happens next. Basically, the synopsis is this: Shy is spending the summer working on a fancy schmancy cruise boat and he witnesses a man commit suicide. A week later, he's being investigated (sort of) but that all gets put on the back burner when a huge tsunami hits and the ship sinks and pretty much everyone dies. Shy manages to survive with another girl, and they're eventually rescued and taken to a sketchy island where lots of medical research takes place. They come to discover that this island and the company sponsoring it is responsible for the creation of this crazy disease that's spreading across America, killing people super quickly and grotesquely. So needless to say, this isn't your typical run-of-the-mill surviving a storm book. There's also the makings of a love triangle in the next book. It's an intriguing concept, sort of unique in that it's not post-apocalyptic or dystopian-- it's right smack dab in the middle of the action, right when everything is starting to go up in smoke. Kind of cool!
This was a riveting book, and an easy read. I really enjoyed the author's style of writing and found it to be truly authentic. There were a lot of different elements/ conspiracy things happening throughout the story, and I'm not sure that it was entirely believable... but once I decided to buy into the story I really enjoyed it. It definitely left me wanting more, and I'll probably be sure to read the second book to see what happens next. Basically, the synopsis is this: Shy is spending the summer working on a fancy schmancy cruise boat and he witnesses a man commit suicide. A week later, he's being investigated (sort of) but that all gets put on the back burner when a huge tsunami hits and the ship sinks and pretty much everyone dies. Shy manages to survive with another girl, and they're eventually rescued and taken to a sketchy island where lots of medical research takes place. They come to discover that this island and the company sponsoring it is responsible for the creation of this crazy disease that's spreading across America, killing people super quickly and grotesquely. So needless to say, this isn't your typical run-of-the-mill surviving a storm book. There's also the makings of a love triangle in the next book. It's an intriguing concept, sort of unique in that it's not post-apocalyptic or dystopian-- it's right smack dab in the middle of the action, right when everything is starting to go up in smoke. Kind of cool!
I love Matt de la Pena. But I don't love the way this book is written. Reason #1: I feel like the limited third person POV would have been better as first person narration through Shy. The way the internal dialogue is written feels weird as third person because of all the slang. Unless Shy dies, I see no advantage to it being third person. Reason #2: the fragment sentences. I don't mind them, when used correctly.
However, and as always, his characters & the themes explored trump all that. And this book's plot gets better and better until I finished and promptly googled when the sequel would be out (not until next year). I will definitely be reading it, fragment sentences and all.
However, and as always, his characters & the themes explored trump all that. And this book's plot gets better and better until I finished and promptly googled when the sequel would be out (not until next year). I will definitely be reading it, fragment sentences and all.
I did enjoy The Living a great deal -- the story moved quickly, the characters were fleshed out, and the plot did provide surprises. My only real objection is that maybe the plot tried to do too much, a horror or dark conspiracy too far. (Will leave it at that so as not to spoil the tale.)
Sticky Note Review http://thebooksupplier.com/the-living-sticky-note-review/
I love Matt de la Pena, and in love We Were Here. His choice to focus on mixed race identity & class issues makes him a relatable, insightful YA author. The success of this book is that he is able to weave these serious issues into a novel that moves at the pace of a Blockbuster action movie. The protagonist Shy sort of reminds me of all of de la Pena's protagonists; he is Mexican American male, deeply sensitive and private, yet sociable. The plot, on the other hand, is original & five star worthy. This would be a great lit circle book and would fuel discussions about the will to survive and the effects of economic inequality in our country. Can't wait to read the sequel!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd read the rest of the series if I had more time, probably. It definitely feels like a book written by and for teenage boys.
Interesting teen read. My big complaint? The main character's name is Shy. I found that, about 25% of the time, when I saw the name (especially at the beginning of a sentence), I was reading "she". Bugged the heck out of me.
This book starts off really slow, but once it gets going, you will read it until you finish. de la Pena writes characters of different races and ethnicities well and allows a reader to understand those feelings and ideas.