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msseviereads's review against another edition
4.0
Really liked this one... a bit inspired by the Canterbury Tales, but for high school students. I liked the premise and by the time I got to the end, I wished there was more! I wanted to know more about their stories and what happened next.
mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition
3.0
It wasn't actually that bad, I just expected something different. I was going into this book thinking it was 1.) more about the survival aspect and 2.) actually a story with 10 different POVs and not completely different stories connected only by the fact that they are all in this camp. I liked some of the stories, but I also skipped quite a few.
i_am_lost's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
tomilovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cam_go_loud's review against another edition
3.0
Like all anthologies, some stories were better than others, but overall I really enjoyed how diverse and insightful each perspective was. My favorites were Self Portrait (I can unfortunately see myself getting into a situation like Sunday's :/) and A Violation of Rule 16 (take that, dress code!). My least favorites were Big Brother (really weird and kind of disturbing, in a bad way), and The Subjunctive (I normally like magical realism, but I have no idea what was happening or why it was happening).
I am especially intrigued by Shaun David Hutchinson's segment.. His narrator's perspective wasn't a personal story of its own, it just tied all the other stories together, but that just makes me want to know more about him. I guess the mystery is the point, though!
I am especially intrigued by Shaun David Hutchinson's segment.. His narrator's perspective wasn't a personal story of its own, it just tied all the other stories together, but that just makes me want to know more about him. I guess the mystery is the point, though!
ellieafterall's review against another edition
4.0
That’s why I like stories. They usually wind up revealing more about a person than what they’re tell you about themselves. It’s not that they lie intentionally, but when people describe themselves they’re really describing what they see in a mirror, and most mirrors are too distorted to show the truth.
3.5! Rounded up because I liked the concept of it and the little parts connecting all of them together. Having studied the Canterbury Tales in both high school and college, I kinda see parallels and that was so so cool! It was the misfits and still a kind of commentary on the world right now - the corrupt and shitty things. TCT talked about different corrupt and shitty things, but I think this was done well. I would’ve just liked it to be longer (my problem with every anthologies) but especially because I grew attached to ALL the characters. Maybe even David.
The Butterfly Effect: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌛 (I’ve decided that the crescent means .5)
The Chaos Effect: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored Marieke Nijkamp’s writing, and I’m definitely going to check out her works now, because Jenna got me deep in my heart. I developed such a soft spot and then it suddenly ended and I was like !!! But then it continued and I was happy so her whole story is five stars. Because she is freaking awesome & deserves the world and a girlfriend (if she wants).
I could stare at individual flames forever. They burn bright yellow and orange and red before succumbing to thick black smoke. They dance across the smoldering good of the car. Given time, I could find patterns in them. Or perhaps I would just find chaos. But chaos is enough.
The Ruthless Dame: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Um, this was GREAT. I LOVED Cody. I think the Cody written from Tim Floreen’s POV is the best character, but he becomes almost irrelevant in the main thing (by Hutchinson I think?) soo that sucks. I loved his obsession with film noir and his attitude and just !!! A legend. He was hilarious and dramatic and didn’t take himself too seriously.
Look Down: ⭐️⭐️🌛
Umm it was okay. I liked Georgia in this, but ghost stories aren’t really my thing. I just kind of liked Robin Talley’s writing and concept, and it did keep me guessing, so...
Big Brother, Part I: ⭐️⭐️
David’s just WEIRD. I don’t know what E.C. Carter was thinking. Like, I don’t know. I was hella pumped to see what happened next, so good work on the suspense I guess? I feel HORRIBLE for Allie though.
Big Brother, Part II: ⭐️🌛
Well, this did get me some sympathy for David but it was kind of anticlimactic and his story is my least favorite.
The Subjunctive: ⭐️⭐️🌛
This was so beautifully written, I loooveed Alaya Dawn Johnson’s use of words, but I had no idea what the fuck was happening. They kind of sum it up after, which helps, but...why am I supposed to care about some coyote again? What? Jaila’s great though.
The world was still; the world held its breath; the world waited, as the two girls waited, for what that bell had rung into existence.
A Cautionary Tale: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌛
This was surprisingly good. I thought Stephanie Kuehn had lost me halfway, but the surprise ending was great. I didn’t expect it until the very end, so that was cool! First person thrillers give you so many opportunities and this proves that. I kind of wish it was about Tino, bc I still don’t know his entire deal but it was a cool short story.
I felt no anger in my heart, no wrath or vengeance, just the cool breeze of certitude. Hadn’t I known this was how it would be? Monsters never understood they were the ones in need of slaying.
Jackie’s Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked that Justina Ireland used a fake beginning, totally threw me off, but enjoyed it anyway! The three little pigs twist was kinda cool. I just feel like it’s forgettable.
Self-Portrait: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel like Sunday Taylor is one of the most open-minded and softest characters ever. She is so understanding and kind and loving and giving and she deserves so much more!!! Growing up with strict parents like her, I get her struggle with being good. I hate that they make fun of her for freaking out about one tiny incident, bc it means so much to us (bc it means so much to our parents). I definitely liked Brandy Colbert’s character.
A Violation of Rule 16: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
That was SO GOOD!!! Major props to Suzanne Young. I suddenly want to read everything she wrote. I loved Lucinda’s attitude, her anger, her little remarks, the “I kinda love him” moments. So good. I wish this was a short book on its own. It would blow up bc it discusses such an important and prevalent issue. Also because I just want to see more of Lucinda okay?
”They could be from an alternate universe where all the men are terrible,” Jameson adds.
“That’s an alternate universe?” I ask, then grin.
P.S. all these kids deserve better and I loved the diversity
If hope is the thing with feathers, then secrets are things with talons. They’re light at first, almost unnoticeable. They’re comfortable and easy to hold. But over time they grow heavier and develop sharp edges. Words become harder to share, and secrets cling to you and claw at you until they’ve dug themselves so deep, your have to read yourself apart to get rid of them.
(I really just want Jenna to be happy)
3.5! Rounded up because I liked the concept of it and the little parts connecting all of them together. Having studied the Canterbury Tales in both high school and college, I kinda see parallels and that was so so cool! It was the misfits and still a kind of commentary on the world right now - the corrupt and shitty things. TCT talked about different corrupt and shitty things, but I think this was done well. I would’ve just liked it to be longer (my problem with every anthologies) but especially because I grew attached to ALL the characters. Maybe even David.
The Butterfly Effect: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌛 (I’ve decided that the crescent means .5)
The Chaos Effect: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored Marieke Nijkamp’s writing, and I’m definitely going to check out her works now, because Jenna got me deep in my heart. I developed such a soft spot and then it suddenly ended and I was like !!! But then it continued and I was happy so her whole story is five stars. Because she is freaking awesome & deserves the world and a girlfriend (if she wants).
I could stare at individual flames forever. They burn bright yellow and orange and red before succumbing to thick black smoke. They dance across the smoldering good of the car. Given time, I could find patterns in them. Or perhaps I would just find chaos. But chaos is enough.
The Ruthless Dame: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Um, this was GREAT. I LOVED Cody. I think the Cody written from Tim Floreen’s POV is the best character, but he becomes almost irrelevant in the main thing (by Hutchinson I think?) soo that sucks. I loved his obsession with film noir and his attitude and just !!! A legend. He was hilarious and dramatic and didn’t take himself too seriously.
Look Down: ⭐️⭐️🌛
Umm it was okay. I liked Georgia in this, but ghost stories aren’t really my thing. I just kind of liked Robin Talley’s writing and concept, and it did keep me guessing, so...
Big Brother, Part I: ⭐️⭐️
David’s just WEIRD. I don’t know what E.C. Carter was thinking. Like, I don’t know. I was hella pumped to see what happened next, so good work on the suspense I guess? I feel HORRIBLE for Allie though.
Big Brother, Part II: ⭐️🌛
Well, this did get me some sympathy for David but it was kind of anticlimactic and his story is my least favorite.
The Subjunctive: ⭐️⭐️🌛
This was so beautifully written, I loooveed Alaya Dawn Johnson’s use of words, but I had no idea what the fuck was happening. They kind of sum it up after, which helps, but...why am I supposed to care about some coyote again? What? Jaila’s great though.
The world was still; the world held its breath; the world waited, as the two girls waited, for what that bell had rung into existence.
A Cautionary Tale: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌛
This was surprisingly good. I thought Stephanie Kuehn had lost me halfway, but the surprise ending was great. I didn’t expect it until the very end, so that was cool! First person thrillers give you so many opportunities and this proves that. I kind of wish it was about Tino, bc I still don’t know his entire deal but it was a cool short story.
I felt no anger in my heart, no wrath or vengeance, just the cool breeze of certitude. Hadn’t I known this was how it would be? Monsters never understood they were the ones in need of slaying.
Jackie’s Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked that Justina Ireland used a fake beginning, totally threw me off, but enjoyed it anyway! The three little pigs twist was kinda cool. I just feel like it’s forgettable.
Self-Portrait: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel like Sunday Taylor is one of the most open-minded and softest characters ever. She is so understanding and kind and loving and giving and she deserves so much more!!! Growing up with strict parents like her, I get her struggle with being good. I hate that they make fun of her for freaking out about one tiny incident, bc it means so much to us (bc it means so much to our parents). I definitely liked Brandy Colbert’s character.
A Violation of Rule 16: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
That was SO GOOD!!! Major props to Suzanne Young. I suddenly want to read everything she wrote. I loved Lucinda’s attitude, her anger, her little remarks, the “I kinda love him” moments. So good. I wish this was a short book on its own. It would blow up bc it discusses such an important and prevalent issue. Also because I just want to see more of Lucinda okay?
”They could be from an alternate universe where all the men are terrible,” Jameson adds.
“That’s an alternate universe?” I ask, then grin.
P.S. all these kids deserve better and I loved the diversity
If hope is the thing with feathers, then secrets are things with talons. They’re light at first, almost unnoticeable. They’re comfortable and easy to hold. But over time they grow heavier and develop sharp edges. Words become harder to share, and secrets cling to you and claw at you until they’ve dug themselves so deep, your have to read yourself apart to get rid of them.
(I really just want Jenna to be happy)
mirareadsalot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
hnagle15's review against another edition
3.0
A Cautionary Tale: 4/5
Jackie's Story: 3.5/5
Big Brother, Pt. 2: 2/5
Self Portrait: 2.5/5
A Violation of Rule 16: 3/5
The Butterfly Effect, Pt. 2: 4/5
Book rating based on the average of individual story ratings: 3.5/5
Jackie's Story: 3.5/5
Big Brother, Pt. 2: 2/5
Self Portrait: 2.5/5
A Violation of Rule 16: 3/5
The Butterfly Effect, Pt. 2: 4/5
Book rating based on the average of individual story ratings: 3.5/5