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bookslesstravelled's review against another edition
4.0
A great book, and an interesting way to introduce teens and young adults to Christian literature.
paperbacks_and_ponytails's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book more than the first of the duology. No spiders in this book, like the first one. The action was nonstop and our two main characters were a really great team who leaned on the Lord and prayed for His guidance through their circumstances.
There is a place where children can go...to make their own truths, to be whoever they want to be. Make their own rules and live by their own choices, there's no winning or losing, or right or wrong. What is happening? And will truth finally win out?
There is a place where children can go...to make their own truths, to be whoever they want to be. Make their own rules and live by their own choices, there's no winning or losing, or right or wrong. What is happening? And will truth finally win out?
dandelionking's review against another edition
2.0
Nightmare Academy has a very interesting premise and I've been wanting to read this novel for years. Literally. Years.
Now that I have finally read it, I must say that I was a little disappointed. I found some of the scenes slightly cheesy. That's why I rated it TWO STARS: it was okay. That being said, the action was great. I read it in less than a week and of course I learned to love the characters again, even after reading the first book, Hangman's Curse, years ago. Peretti will always being a personal favorite author of mine and though this book wasn't what I expect it doesn't diminish the fact that Peretti is a remarkable storyteller and whom I aspire to be like.
Now that I have finally read it, I must say that I was a little disappointed. I found some of the scenes slightly cheesy. That's why I rated it TWO STARS: it was okay. That being said, the action was great. I read it in less than a week and of course I learned to love the characters again, even after reading the first book, Hangman's Curse, years ago. Peretti will always being a personal favorite author of mine and though this book wasn't what I expect it doesn't diminish the fact that Peretti is a remarkable storyteller and whom I aspire to be like.
cyclone_rachel's review against another edition
this was probably one of my favorite books as a teenager
I don't know if I'll go back to it, but I really liked it and wanted more in that series
I don't know if I'll go back to it, but I really liked it and wanted more in that series
brennieree33's review against another edition
3.0
TD;LR
Christian Lord of the Flies
-Loved the theme of this book. And it was legitimately terrifying to see all the kids rise up against each other and just turn. So quickly. Especially when Joan turned against Elisha by bringing her to the phone and Alex
-I do think they did a better job of making us more endeared to Elijah and Elisha, but they still have little to no personality.
-I laughed so hard when Elijah was annoyed about 666 being the password. Also when everybody would switch names and there would long things like: Kasey/Ashley/Kari/Jamie/Rachel (as an example). Freaking hilarious
-WHERE WAS MR. MAXWELL?
This book was okay. It was just a lot slower than the other book. The argument that all truths are real isn't a truth. There is one truth, but different viewpoints. But a different viewpoint doesn't make a specific thing true. I could say, "Hamburgers are the worst food ever," but that doesn't make it true. That's subjective. I really debated on whether or not to give it a 2 or 3 stars, but I'll give a 3 because I was genuinely into the story, and when I was tempted to go do other things (I did binge the last like, 250 pages all in one sitting for like a straight 6ish hours with a few breaks in between), it did draw me back in to finish it.
Christian Lord of the Flies
Spoiler
but it was an experiment the whole time!Spoiler
-Loved the theme of this book. And it was legitimately terrifying to see all the kids rise up against each other and just turn. So quickly. Especially when Joan turned against Elisha by bringing her to the phone and Alex
-I do think they did a better job of making us more endeared to Elijah and Elisha, but they still have little to no personality.
-I laughed so hard when Elijah was annoyed about 666 being the password. Also when everybody would switch names and there would long things like: Kasey/Ashley/Kari/Jamie/Rachel (as an example). Freaking hilarious
-WHERE WAS MR. MAXWELL?
This book was okay. It was just a lot slower than the other book.
Spoiler
I loved how it was a psychological experiment the whole time, and I think that's super cool. It's really terrifying to think about, being pulled on strings by puppets while you have zero idea about what's going on.boywithabible's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
samwescott's review against another edition
1.0
Yikes.
I read this book as a kid and it gave me a lot of messed up ideas about public education and class discussion and how to cope with new ideas. It's a terrible book (like, written poorly and cheesy as hell), but more troubling is the overblown caricature of secular education and how not having the christian faith taught in public schools leads to the outright denial of reality and complete dissolution of truth (which is hilarious, coming from a young earth creationist author).
I had to re-read this book as an adult to settle my feelings about how it influenced me as a kid and, honestly, I'm legitimately mad about how much it prejudiced me against learning or interacting with new ideas and ways of thinking. It's like Peretti attended one unproductive undergrad philosophy class (and omg all undergrad philosophy classes are unproductive) and then decided to write a book about how the "liberal-biased education system" was trying to brainwash kids and teach them not to believe in reality (which, apparently, is only the Bible). Like, omg, I went to Bible college for a few years and we still discussed moral relativism and nihilism. It's ok, dude. That's what school is FOR.
It was so bad. So, so bad.
And, omg, Peretti, don't refer to kids as "the Hispanic from the volleyball game". Yikes.
I read this book as a kid and it gave me a lot of messed up ideas about public education and class discussion and how to cope with new ideas. It's a terrible book (like, written poorly and cheesy as hell), but more troubling is the overblown caricature of secular education and how not having the christian faith taught in public schools leads to the outright denial of reality and complete dissolution of truth (which is hilarious, coming from a young earth creationist author).
I had to re-read this book as an adult to settle my feelings about how it influenced me as a kid and, honestly, I'm legitimately mad about how much it prejudiced me against learning or interacting with new ideas and ways of thinking. It's like Peretti attended one unproductive undergrad philosophy class (and omg all undergrad philosophy classes are unproductive) and then decided to write a book about how the "liberal-biased education system" was trying to brainwash kids and teach them not to believe in reality (which, apparently, is only the Bible). Like, omg, I went to Bible college for a few years and we still discussed moral relativism and nihilism. It's ok, dude. That's what school is FOR.
It was so bad. So, so bad.
And, omg, Peretti, don't refer to kids as "the Hispanic from the volleyball game". Yikes.
dbrousseau's review against another edition
3.0
A bit slow to start out but a powerful message. Peretti always hits the bullseye on a social and political parallel to his story. Without truth, we have no right and wrong and a tyrant will rise up to fill the void. Everyone wondering how we got to where we are should read this.
vermidian's review against another edition
1.0
I read this ages ago, directly following Hangman's Curse - which I loved as a tween, a view I have since reconsidered out of frustration - and I quit reading it a few chapters in. It just didn't hold my attention. Having just reread the first book, I won't be making another attempt to find out why I didn't finish this book. The first book was frustrating enough to reread as an adult.