jmfraser19's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my all time favorite books, by one of my all time favorite authors. If you have not read this book yet, you should.
egwbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I think that this book was good overall. It had a great message and really showed what it means to face your fears and not be afraid even in the darkest times. But I will say that it could have been better and was rushed a little, for example I feel like I wanted to get to know the characters more and who they were. You only touch the surface about who they were and then it moved on to more of them just trying to get out of the country. It also concluded poorly, and we didn't get to see more about Will's parents and he should have been able to say goodbye to all of his friends that was kind of odd that he just left without saying goodbye. But overall like I said very good. I would give it a 3.5 out of five stars, but since Goodreads doesn't let you I will give it 4 stars!
dandelionking's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably the most political, emotional, and intense action ride I've ever read in a Young Adult novel. Andrew Klavan has done it again with this stunningly beautiful epic that lays open the truth about some misunderstood politics. Here is the plot...
"High schooler Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help rebuild a school. In a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the hearts of the local people with their energy and kindness.
But in one sudden moment, everything went horribly wrong. A revolution swept the country. Now, guns and terror are everywhere—and Americans are being targeted as the first to die.
Will and his friends have got to get out fast. But streets full of killers . . . hills patrolled by armies . . . and a jungle rife with danger stand between them and the border. Their one hope of escape lies with a veteran warrior who has lost his faith and may betray them at any moment. Their one dream is to reach freedom and safety and home."
The characters are deep. Will is so relatable that it is kind of creepy at times. His fears, his pains,and all that haunts him from home, his emotions about girls that confuse him are all SO real. A girl named Meredith has a spiritual strength that emboldens the plot. A man named Palmer Dunn is the rugged, good looking, hero, and ex-marine that leads. And a shallow blonde named Nicki learns to how become real and strong.
The story is bold, the theme relevant, and the soul of the story is stark, edgy, and beautiful.
"High schooler Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help rebuild a school. In a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the hearts of the local people with their energy and kindness.
But in one sudden moment, everything went horribly wrong. A revolution swept the country. Now, guns and terror are everywhere—and Americans are being targeted as the first to die.
Will and his friends have got to get out fast. But streets full of killers . . . hills patrolled by armies . . . and a jungle rife with danger stand between them and the border. Their one hope of escape lies with a veteran warrior who has lost his faith and may betray them at any moment. Their one dream is to reach freedom and safety and home."
The characters are deep. Will is so relatable that it is kind of creepy at times. His fears, his pains,and all that haunts him from home, his emotions about girls that confuse him are all SO real. A girl named Meredith has a spiritual strength that emboldens the plot. A man named Palmer Dunn is the rugged, good looking, hero, and ex-marine that leads. And a shallow blonde named Nicki learns to how become real and strong.
The story is bold, the theme relevant, and the soul of the story is stark, edgy, and beautiful.
asey's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised with this book. Usually Christian literature of this nature is not that good, but this was not bad. You have to suspend reality a couple of times, but overall, pretty good! I would recommend to ages 13-17.
kberejkoff's review against another edition
5.0
Fun action filled easy read that was clean and surprisingly uplifting. I will read more of his books in the future.
tjlcody's review against another edition
1.0
Not especially well-written.
As entertaining as it was to watch Jim get told to STFU with his utter inability to understand that the revolutionaries were not the brave, progressive heroes he assumed they were (He reminds me of the adorable little Tumblr-Communists who casually ignore the millions of bodies racked up by "brave revolutionaries" around the world and watching him get a brutal reality-check was satisfying) I really don't think I can slough my way through the rest of this.
I just can't take it seriously. On one hand it's possibly the most dull book about a violent coup that I've ever read, and on the other hand the writing is just so... Not good. Apparently this book is marketed at middle/early high school age, and to be blunt, the author sounds like he's trying waaaaaay too hard to sound like one of the hip young cool kids.
I made it halfway through, and I'm not interested in going any further.
As entertaining as it was to watch Jim get told to STFU with his utter inability to understand that the revolutionaries were not the brave, progressive heroes he assumed they were (He reminds me of the adorable little Tumblr-Communists who casually ignore the millions of bodies racked up by "brave revolutionaries" around the world and watching him get a brutal reality-check was satisfying) I really don't think I can slough my way through the rest of this.
I just can't take it seriously. On one hand it's possibly the most dull book about a violent coup that I've ever read, and on the other hand the writing is just so... Not good. Apparently this book is marketed at middle/early high school age, and to be blunt, the author sounds like he's trying waaaaaay too hard to sound like one of the hip young cool kids.
I made it halfway through, and I'm not interested in going any further.
oliviasbookishworld's review against another edition
1.0
Eh. This book was just too "teenager-ish" for me. I was annoyed from the beginning and finally quit a few chapters in. It might of been the mood I was in, but I had no interest in continuing the book.
ilosttrackofthings's review against another edition
5.0
Have you ever started a book and known immediately you'd made a terrible mistake? That putting it down would be nearly impossible but that you'd also want to put off the ending as long as possible because it was so good? That was this book. I started it late one night, figuring I'd get in a chapter or two, just enough to entice me to keep reading in the morning. It took so much effort to actually stop and go to bed, then when I woke up the first thing I thought of was this book.
I've only ever read one other Klavan novel (though after this I think I'm pretty set on reading many more) and that one for adults, but this had everything I loved from the first. It had strong Christian (and conservative) themes but wasn't overbearing about it and didn't pull any punches to get there. It was gritty and honest. All of the characters were deeply real. There wasn't a single action or reaction that felt forced or dishonest to the way real people would act.
It was just overall fantastic. The action barely let up but, thanks to the first person narration, it was kept at a manageable pace by the main character's frequent reflections on events surrounding him.
My only thought even approaching a complaint is that I wish there was more. Also I want this made into a movie, STAT. Someone get on that.
I've only ever read one other Klavan novel (though after this I think I'm pretty set on reading many more) and that one for adults, but this had everything I loved from the first. It had strong Christian (and conservative) themes but wasn't overbearing about it and didn't pull any punches to get there. It was gritty and honest. All of the characters were deeply real. There wasn't a single action or reaction that felt forced or dishonest to the way real people would act.
It was just overall fantastic. The action barely let up but, thanks to the first person narration, it was kept at a manageable pace by the main character's frequent reflections on events surrounding him.
My only thought even approaching a complaint is that I wish there was more.