laughlinesandliterature's review
3.0
This book sucked me in with it’s creativity. I liked the idea of the paranormal, mixing with the supposed mentally ill, but this novel is not what I was expecting. I enjoyed it immensely, but once it was over I felt dissatisfied, and I’m not sure why. I thought Astrid was very reasonable, and apart from Max, she was the only one I thought had any sort of redeeming quality. It was easy to forget while reading, that these were only high school kids. I felt that Teddy was too controlling, and while I understand that he may have been influenced by drugs, etc. I felt that he had some sort of mood disorder. He would be perfectly charming and then vicious. That kind of dichotomy scares me, I could never feel safe or truly trust someone like that. Ally and Laura were definitely intriguing and I wish we could have learned more about them. It was difficult because while the story was from multiple viewpoints they were definitely fringe characters.
I also have to mention Eduardo, I felt so terrible for him. He truly cared about the kids and wanted to help them, but Lycen kept getting in the way. My favorite scene of the whole book is when he breaks into Lycen’s office. I’m not sure what he found, but I’ll probably read the second book just to find out! I am only giving this book 3 stars, because I do feel dissatisfied. I think it’s that I would’ve liked more answers by the end of the book, and while I can understand why we didn’t get them, I feel like I have more questions than answers. I don’t expect to have all the answers in the first book in a series, but I want to feel like I’ve started to figure things out. Overall it was a great read and I look forward to the next!
I also have to mention Eduardo, I felt so terrible for him. He truly cared about the kids and wanted to help them, but Lycen kept getting in the way. My favorite scene of the whole book is when he breaks into Lycen’s office. I’m not sure what he found, but I’ll probably read the second book just to find out! I am only giving this book 3 stars, because I do feel dissatisfied. I think it’s that I would’ve liked more answers by the end of the book, and while I can understand why we didn’t get them, I feel like I have more questions than answers. I don’t expect to have all the answers in the first book in a series, but I want to feel like I’ve started to figure things out. Overall it was a great read and I look forward to the next!
jordant's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the synopsis for this book I couldn't wait to read it. The relationships between all the characters was so real and made me feel like they were real people and I could really relate to them. Although the book starts off slow when it gets to the action, man does it pack in some action! The POV switching was a bit confusing at times and I;d have to flick back to see who was talking. I liked the idea of children being shipped off to a mental facility to become 'lab rats' to develop their powers. This book did not disappoint and I will definitely be reading the second installment.
When I read the synopsis for this book I couldn't wait to read it. The relationships between all the characters was so real and made me feel like they were real people and I could really relate to them. Although the book starts off slow when it gets to the action, man does it pack in some action! The POV switching was a bit confusing at times and I;d have to flick back to see who was talking. I liked the idea of children being shipped off to a mental facility to become 'lab rats' to develop their powers. This book did not disappoint and I will definitely be reading the second installment.
escapeebee's review
4.0
Review also posted here on TotalTeenFiction.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent this book by one of the authors to review and thought the premise sounded really interesting! Astrid and Max are two teenagers living in a residential until for teens with emotional and psychiatric problems. Wakefield focuses around the lives and goings-on of the characters on that ward.
I found the beginning a little difficult to get into because we're introduced to Astrid and Max, and then there's some darting about in time between their current situation and Wakefield and how they first arrived. Once I settled into it, however, I really started to enjoy the story.
The book alternates from Astrid and Max's POV which I thought was really effective, because the teens on the unit spend a lot of their time separated by gender, so it gave a great insight as to what was happening with both the girls and the boys. I felt the two characters made good narrators because they're sort of observing a lot of interesting things happening around them whilst being quite quiet people themselves. Ocassionally there were also chapters from one of the staff members which I actually really liked. It helped give a perspective of what was going on outside of what the teenagers knew about, which really ramped up the suspense. I thought that was really clever even though it was unusual for a YA book.
The two main characters become friends and it took a little whole for me to feel that friendship, but I could see that they had similar backgrounds and had a lot in common. I think there was one scene where I felt they really bonded and from then on I enjoyed the chemistry between them. I found myself more drawn to some of the other characters living with them, particularly Ally, Laura, Azrael and Teddy who all had some interesting things going on.
The real draw of Wakefield is the fact that it seems like there's a lot more going on that meets the eye. Weird things start happening to some of the characters, and as they start to talk to each other it becomes clear something bigger is going on. Why are they there? Why are they on this weird medication? Why are some of the inpatients being treated differently?
The suspense was kept up for quite a while and even though I could kind of see where things were going, I didn't mind the wait and it spurred me on to keep reading. It did feel very similar to another book I'd read in parts (The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong) but the fact I can compare it to one of my favourite books and still say it managed to pull it off I think is a huge compliment! If you've read and enjoyed The Summoning then I think you'd like Wakefield, even if that similarity does take away some of the surprises.
The ending of this book blew me away and I'd definitely be interested in reading the next book. It was a pleasantly surprising read with plenty of action and suspense! And a book I would definitely recommend.
Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent this book by one of the authors to review and thought the premise sounded really interesting! Astrid and Max are two teenagers living in a residential until for teens with emotional and psychiatric problems. Wakefield focuses around the lives and goings-on of the characters on that ward.
I found the beginning a little difficult to get into because we're introduced to Astrid and Max, and then there's some darting about in time between their current situation and Wakefield and how they first arrived. Once I settled into it, however, I really started to enjoy the story.
The book alternates from Astrid and Max's POV which I thought was really effective, because the teens on the unit spend a lot of their time separated by gender, so it gave a great insight as to what was happening with both the girls and the boys. I felt the two characters made good narrators because they're sort of observing a lot of interesting things happening around them whilst being quite quiet people themselves. Ocassionally there were also chapters from one of the staff members which I actually really liked. It helped give a perspective of what was going on outside of what the teenagers knew about, which really ramped up the suspense. I thought that was really clever even though it was unusual for a YA book.
The two main characters become friends and it took a little whole for me to feel that friendship, but I could see that they had similar backgrounds and had a lot in common. I think there was one scene where I felt they really bonded and from then on I enjoyed the chemistry between them. I found myself more drawn to some of the other characters living with them, particularly Ally, Laura, Azrael and Teddy who all had some interesting things going on.
The real draw of Wakefield is the fact that it seems like there's a lot more going on that meets the eye. Weird things start happening to some of the characters, and as they start to talk to each other it becomes clear something bigger is going on. Why are they there? Why are they on this weird medication? Why are some of the inpatients being treated differently?
The suspense was kept up for quite a while and even though I could kind of see where things were going, I didn't mind the wait and it spurred me on to keep reading. It did feel very similar to another book I'd read in parts (The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong) but the fact I can compare it to one of my favourite books and still say it managed to pull it off I think is a huge compliment! If you've read and enjoyed The Summoning then I think you'd like Wakefield, even if that similarity does take away some of the surprises.
The ending of this book blew me away and I'd definitely be interested in reading the next book. It was a pleasantly surprising read with plenty of action and suspense! And a book I would definitely recommend.
Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!
avoraciousreader68's review
5.0
4.5
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
Teenagers Astrid Chalke and Max Fisher meet at Wakefield Residential and Educational Treatment Facility. Both orphaned and sent to the facility because of behavioral issues they feel they don’t belong. With residents who are severely disabled to those with more mild issues both Max and Astrid are assigned to the Newton wing. Eventually their paths cross and the two join their small circle of friends into one larger group. When Teddy claims he has special powers and that the staff are hiding something huge they at first dismiss his talk as paranoid. But as weird things happen and other things don’t add up, it’s time for Max and Astrid to trust their gut. They have to break out of Wakefield and take their friends with them. Before it’s too late.
This story is told from several POVs, but mostly from Astrid and Max’s. It really helps to get an overall view of Wakefield. The characters are really well-developed and the writing is excellent. I felt as if I was there with them and experiencing everything they were experiencing. The mystery surrounding the so-called powers was making me twitchy. I wanted to know what the hell was going on, but of course the info was parceled out as if by Scrooge himself. I so wanted to flip to the end, but resisted. Barely. Yeah, I have no patience for a mystery to unfold on its own. I must know! LOL There are two reasons why this did not get a 5 out of me. The ending, while not an abrupt drop off is still a cliffhanger and I hate cliffhangers. Also, Max’s dreams were really strange and I couldn’t make heads nor tails of them. I know dreams are like that. I’ve had plenty of them myself, but I know his dreams are meant to be clues and I wasn’t picking up what was being put down. Know what I mean? Overall though this is an excellent read that I relinquished only when it was absolutely necessary.
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
Teenagers Astrid Chalke and Max Fisher meet at Wakefield Residential and Educational Treatment Facility. Both orphaned and sent to the facility because of behavioral issues they feel they don’t belong. With residents who are severely disabled to those with more mild issues both Max and Astrid are assigned to the Newton wing. Eventually their paths cross and the two join their small circle of friends into one larger group. When Teddy claims he has special powers and that the staff are hiding something huge they at first dismiss his talk as paranoid. But as weird things happen and other things don’t add up, it’s time for Max and Astrid to trust their gut. They have to break out of Wakefield and take their friends with them. Before it’s too late.
This story is told from several POVs, but mostly from Astrid and Max’s. It really helps to get an overall view of Wakefield. The characters are really well-developed and the writing is excellent. I felt as if I was there with them and experiencing everything they were experiencing. The mystery surrounding the so-called powers was making me twitchy. I wanted to know what the hell was going on, but of course the info was parceled out as if by Scrooge himself. I so wanted to flip to the end, but resisted. Barely. Yeah, I have no patience for a mystery to unfold on its own. I must know! LOL There are two reasons why this did not get a 5 out of me. The ending, while not an abrupt drop off is still a cliffhanger and I hate cliffhangers. Also, Max’s dreams were really strange and I couldn’t make heads nor tails of them. I know dreams are like that. I’ve had plenty of them myself, but I know his dreams are meant to be clues and I wasn’t picking up what was being put down. Know what I mean? Overall though this is an excellent read that I relinquished only when it was absolutely necessary.
brightbeautifulthings's review
3.0
After reading and reviewing The Art of Escaping last year (on Roberta from Offbeat YA’s recommendation <3), I was lucky enough to do some beta reading for Erin Callahan. It was a lovely experience, and it just made me love her writing even more. This is all to say that I’m a little biased in her favor, but I’ll do my best to review Wakefield objectively. Trigger warnings: severe illness, cancer, death, suicide (attempted), mental illness, self-harm, abuse (mention), violence.
In alternating chapters, Wakefield follows the stories of Max and Astrid, two patients at an institution for troubled teenagers. Astrid is still grieving her mother’s death from cancer, and Max is recovering from a failed (and unadmitted) suicide attempt after his parents were killed in a car accident. They meet Teddy, a mysterious patient who’s convinced he has supernatural powers. At first skeptical, Max and Astrid are forced to reconsider as things get stranger at Wakefield. It’s possible that Teddy is telling the truth, and Wakefield is covering up a conspiracy about teens with a variety of abilities.
I love the premise of this book, and it’s right in my wheelhouse of paranormal/urban fantasy. Supernatural abilities that are hastily (and mistakenly) labeled mental illness isn’t a new concept, but it’s handled with sensitivity, and I like the direction Wakefield takes with it. The writing is good, but the pace is very slow. The first hundred pages are mostly devoted to establishing place and character, which are both well done, but there isn’t a clear conflict or villain until well after that. While the world-building is good, I’m not sure we needed so much of it, since Wakefield looks just enough like the normal world, except for a few important changes. It feels like I waited an entire novel for characters to use their supernatural powers, when I was willing to accept from page one that they had them.
I had mixed reactions to the characters. Astrid and Max are both kind and willing to stand up for other patients, which makes it easy to pull for them. Not surprisingly, Astrid is my favorite. She’s a stubborn, levelheaded realist for almost the entire novel, and her bonding with her difficult roommate, Ally, is well-paced and -developed (though I wish Astrid was a little more sympathetic to her). I don’t have as good a sense of Max, who feels slightly blander, and his relationships more inscrutable. His friendship with Teddy happens kind of inexplicably and some of it off-page, but I’m not sure if that’s just because Teddy is such a weird character. He’s hot and cold, impulsive and guarded. I think we’re supposed to sympathize with him, but I’m not sure whether we’re supposed to like him (and Astrid’s mixed reactions to him pretty much sum up these feelings). I was weirdly fond of Seth, who’s basically a side character, but he reminds me of the Cheshire cat in the best way.
Astrid’s chapters are generally focused on a single event and how it plays out among her and the other characters, whereas Max’s attempt to cover more ground and bounce among various events. It makes the narrative more disjointed, and there were more things in Max’s sections that felt random and unexplained. His series of increasingly weird dreams don’t really help, and I’m not sure what we’re supposed to take from those. I’m sure that’s a thread that will be addressed in further books, but in the context of this one, it was a little frustrating. While the book occasionally hints at characters’ abilities, their collective use of them doesn’t come until the final scenes. I’m having some trouble suspending my disbelief that characters who have never practiced their powers on-page are suddenly able to use them fully and effectively, but I guess people have been known to do extraordinary things under dire circumstances. It’s not the strongest beginning to a series, but I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
In alternating chapters, Wakefield follows the stories of Max and Astrid, two patients at an institution for troubled teenagers. Astrid is still grieving her mother’s death from cancer, and Max is recovering from a failed (and unadmitted) suicide attempt after his parents were killed in a car accident. They meet Teddy, a mysterious patient who’s convinced he has supernatural powers. At first skeptical, Max and Astrid are forced to reconsider as things get stranger at Wakefield. It’s possible that Teddy is telling the truth, and Wakefield is covering up a conspiracy about teens with a variety of abilities.
I love the premise of this book, and it’s right in my wheelhouse of paranormal/urban fantasy. Supernatural abilities that are hastily (and mistakenly) labeled mental illness isn’t a new concept, but it’s handled with sensitivity, and I like the direction Wakefield takes with it. The writing is good, but the pace is very slow. The first hundred pages are mostly devoted to establishing place and character, which are both well done, but there isn’t a clear conflict or villain until well after that. While the world-building is good, I’m not sure we needed so much of it, since Wakefield looks just enough like the normal world, except for a few important changes. It feels like I waited an entire novel for characters to use their supernatural powers, when I was willing to accept from page one that they had them.
I had mixed reactions to the characters. Astrid and Max are both kind and willing to stand up for other patients, which makes it easy to pull for them. Not surprisingly, Astrid is my favorite. She’s a stubborn, levelheaded realist for almost the entire novel, and her bonding with her difficult roommate, Ally, is well-paced and -developed (though I wish Astrid was a little more sympathetic to her). I don’t have as good a sense of Max, who feels slightly blander, and his relationships more inscrutable. His friendship with Teddy happens kind of inexplicably and some of it off-page, but I’m not sure if that’s just because Teddy is such a weird character. He’s hot and cold, impulsive and guarded. I think we’re supposed to sympathize with him, but I’m not sure whether we’re supposed to like him (and Astrid’s mixed reactions to him pretty much sum up these feelings). I was weirdly fond of Seth, who’s basically a side character, but he reminds me of the Cheshire cat in the best way.
Astrid’s chapters are generally focused on a single event and how it plays out among her and the other characters, whereas Max’s attempt to cover more ground and bounce among various events. It makes the narrative more disjointed, and there were more things in Max’s sections that felt random and unexplained. His series of increasingly weird dreams don’t really help, and I’m not sure what we’re supposed to take from those. I’m sure that’s a thread that will be addressed in further books, but in the context of this one, it was a little frustrating. While the book occasionally hints at characters’ abilities, their collective use of them doesn’t come until the final scenes. I’m having some trouble suspending my disbelief that characters who have never practiced their powers on-page are suddenly able to use them fully and effectively, but I guess people have been known to do extraordinary things under dire circumstances. It’s not the strongest beginning to a series, but I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
thefox22's review
3.0
*I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis, as the main characters were residents of a mental institution for teens. Add in paranormal and fantastical elements, and I knew it was going to be good. :)
The book is in three different POVs: Astrid, Max, and Eduardo. I was a little confused about one of the staff members having a few chapters of his own. He didn't play a key role in this book, but he was definitely one of the few staff members whom the teens liked. And I think we'll see more of him in Tunnelville. I was also a little confused why Teddy didn't have a POV, but I can see why he didn't because he didn't talk very much, unless it was to talk about his "powers" and the evil inside the institution. Max and Astrid think he's crazy. Or is he?
I really liked the two main characters, and I even enjoyed the strange and unusual interactions between them and the other residents they meet. Some of them are suffering from multiple personality disorder and others are cutters. Whatever their psychological and behavioral problems are, all of the residents have one thing in common: they hate Wakefield.
While it tries to be a welcoming place, it's still a mental institution, and some of its staff members are unnecessarily mean to the kids. And there is more going on than any of these teens know about. Teddy is the only one who seems to know what's going on with their head psychiatrist.
These kids are determined to escape the suffocating prison, and they are trying to find out whether Teddy's claims are real. It's not until the makeshift prom that Max and Astrid realize the truth. It's been right in front of their faces the whole time. After their final attempt at freedom goes as planned, Max, Astrid, Teddy, and their friends are out of the institution. But they won't be forgotten, as the epilogue gives a glimpse into what will happen in Tunnelville.
I really enjoyed this book! I found myself laughing out loud a lot at the teens' conversations and interactions with each other. The beginning was a little slow, and it took me awhile to get into the story. But once they meet Teddy, it picks up. All of their talk about powers and visions had me wondering if it wasn't just all in their minds. I was really surprised with the ending, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! :)
I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis, as the main characters were residents of a mental institution for teens. Add in paranormal and fantastical elements, and I knew it was going to be good. :)
The book is in three different POVs: Astrid, Max, and Eduardo. I was a little confused about one of the staff members having a few chapters of his own. He didn't play a key role in this book, but he was definitely one of the few staff members whom the teens liked. And I think we'll see more of him in Tunnelville. I was also a little confused why Teddy didn't have a POV, but I can see why he didn't because he didn't talk very much, unless it was to talk about his "powers" and the evil inside the institution. Max and Astrid think he's crazy. Or is he?
I really liked the two main characters, and I even enjoyed the strange and unusual interactions between them and the other residents they meet. Some of them are suffering from multiple personality disorder and others are cutters. Whatever their psychological and behavioral problems are, all of the residents have one thing in common: they hate Wakefield.
While it tries to be a welcoming place, it's still a mental institution, and some of its staff members are unnecessarily mean to the kids. And there is more going on than any of these teens know about. Teddy is the only one who seems to know what's going on with their head psychiatrist.
These kids are determined to escape the suffocating prison, and they are trying to find out whether Teddy's claims are real. It's not until the makeshift prom that Max and Astrid realize the truth. It's been right in front of their faces the whole time. After their final attempt at freedom goes as planned, Max, Astrid, Teddy, and their friends are out of the institution. But they won't be forgotten, as the epilogue gives a glimpse into what will happen in Tunnelville.
I really enjoyed this book! I found myself laughing out loud a lot at the teens' conversations and interactions with each other. The beginning was a little slow, and it took me awhile to get into the story. But once they meet Teddy, it picks up. All of their talk about powers and visions had me wondering if it wasn't just all in their minds. I was really surprised with the ending, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! :)
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