ashleysumm's review against another edition
5.0
They won't be forgotten...
Life is anything but hopeful for the teens at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center. The guards are rough and callous, and one day, they all start acting very strange. When they don't show up the next day, and the door is slightly cracked open, the teens think they may have a chance at escaping and making new lives for themselves. The group of soldiers at a nearby roadblock shut them down, telling them that a a highly infectious disease is spreading like wildfire and no one can leave their homes. The kids realize they have been left to fend for themselves and that no one cares. They are determined to survive, despite limited resources and tensions between them. Can they work together and keep each other safe? And what happens when someone starts coughing?
This was the most terrifying book I have read in a while. I was glued to each page, desperate to know what was going to happen to the Hope teens. This novel was heavy with survival, grief, friendship, sacrifice, and desperation. I was blown away by each of the characters and was very emotional about their situation. This book was really beautifully written and I cannot wait to read more of Marieke Nijkamp's work. I recommend this to anyone who loves YA thrillers.
There is a content warning at the beginning of the book for anyone who may be triggered by certain topics.
Life is anything but hopeful for the teens at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center. The guards are rough and callous, and one day, they all start acting very strange. When they don't show up the next day, and the door is slightly cracked open, the teens think they may have a chance at escaping and making new lives for themselves. The group of soldiers at a nearby roadblock shut them down, telling them that a a highly infectious disease is spreading like wildfire and no one can leave their homes. The kids realize they have been left to fend for themselves and that no one cares. They are determined to survive, despite limited resources and tensions between them. Can they work together and keep each other safe? And what happens when someone starts coughing?
This was the most terrifying book I have read in a while. I was glued to each page, desperate to know what was going to happen to the Hope teens. This novel was heavy with survival, grief, friendship, sacrifice, and desperation. I was blown away by each of the characters and was very emotional about their situation. This book was really beautifully written and I cannot wait to read more of Marieke Nijkamp's work. I recommend this to anyone who loves YA thrillers.
There is a content warning at the beginning of the book for anyone who may be triggered by certain topics.
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
housedominic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
lilia493's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
elreadz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was nervous reading this so close after covid as I lost someone to covid. But it actually didn’t really remind me of covid too much the characters are so diverse and I love the use of POV especially In a book such as this one. I cried so hard at the end however I should have known that after reading other books by nijkamp!
jakinabook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
garytay23's review against another edition
5.0
Man this was a good read. Reading this book in the shadow of the pandemic hit too close to home though, haha. The cast of characters was full of a variety of personalities, backgrounds, and identities despite their unified role of "outcast teenagers" in a correctional facility. It was so interesting to see how their individual characters came together (or split apart) in the face of a world-ending catastrophe like this. The last chapters broke my heart but the ending still felt hopeful and satisfying.
girlreading's review against another edition
4.0
A heart pounding and gripping story of the resilience and strength of those forgotten and overlooked.
I’ll admit, due the inspiration behind this book and the painful reality of it, I was apprehensive going into this book. Is it too soon to read a covid inspired story? Did I really want to immerse myself even more in a pandemic world? Was it going to be feel ‘too’ real? But in all honesty, I think Marieke did a wonderful job with this book and perfectly balancing the ‘real’ with the dramatised. I flew through this book in two sittings and whilst there were moments that were undoubtedly uncomfortable to read, for the most part, it felt like the exciting, nail biting and anger inducing apocalyptic thriller it is and would have been in a pre-covid world. The timeframe in which the pandemic grew was accelerated and exaggerated in a way that just about managed to feel far enough removed from the current covid situation to enjoy it and feel like an apocalyptic story, rather than a covid-set one. That being said, there were moments and terms that hit a little too close to home and somewhat pulled me back into covid life (but I’m not sure any kind of plague, virus etc. narrative will ever not do that now?)
I also loved the way Marieke handled the different characters and their backstories, identities etc. It was wonderful to follow such a diverse and ignored cast of characters being so resilient and basically kicking butt, whilst also not having their identities, disabilities or pasts overlooked, sensationalised or pitied. Each character had their own, individual and endearing voice and I loved following each of them.
Overall, whilst I appreciate that this story won’t be for everyone (and wholly understand why) I thoroughly enjoyed it. Marieke’s approach to this narrative and it’s characters was empathetic and exciting, their writing style easy to read and gripping and I have to say, they may have convinced me not to totally avoid all covid inspired/related work in the future (although not fully because I’m not sure I trust that everyone will execute it so brilliantly.)
TW: transphobia, ableism, abuse, mention of sexual violence and racial profiling.
I’ll admit, due the inspiration behind this book and the painful reality of it, I was apprehensive going into this book. Is it too soon to read a covid inspired story? Did I really want to immerse myself even more in a pandemic world? Was it going to be feel ‘too’ real? But in all honesty, I think Marieke did a wonderful job with this book and perfectly balancing the ‘real’ with the dramatised. I flew through this book in two sittings and whilst there were moments that were undoubtedly uncomfortable to read, for the most part, it felt like the exciting, nail biting and anger inducing apocalyptic thriller it is and would have been in a pre-covid world. The timeframe in which the pandemic grew was accelerated and exaggerated in a way that just about managed to feel far enough removed from the current covid situation to enjoy it and feel like an apocalyptic story, rather than a covid-set one. That being said, there were moments and terms that hit a little too close to home and somewhat pulled me back into covid life (but I’m not sure any kind of plague, virus etc. narrative will ever not do that now?)
I also loved the way Marieke handled the different characters and their backstories, identities etc. It was wonderful to follow such a diverse and ignored cast of characters being so resilient and basically kicking butt, whilst also not having their identities, disabilities or pasts overlooked, sensationalised or pitied. Each character had their own, individual and endearing voice and I loved following each of them.
Overall, whilst I appreciate that this story won’t be for everyone (and wholly understand why) I thoroughly enjoyed it. Marieke’s approach to this narrative and it’s characters was empathetic and exciting, their writing style easy to read and gripping and I have to say, they may have convinced me not to totally avoid all covid inspired/related work in the future (although not fully because I’m not sure I trust that everyone will execute it so brilliantly.)
TW: transphobia, ableism, abuse, mention of sexual violence and racial profiling.
amayaethomas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5